Climate 200 Explained

Climate 200 Pty Ltd
Industry:Political Funding
Founder:Simon Holmes à Court
Hq Location City:Potts Point, New South Wales
Key People:Simon Holmes à Court (Convenor)
Products:Teal independents

Climate 200 is an Australian company that provides political funding. It describes itself as a "community crowdfunding initiative" that supports community-backed independents to stand for election to advance climate policy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the country and limit climate change in Australia.[1] Its convener told the ABC that the backed candidates "have a shared philosophy on climate change, integrity and gender equity."[2]

The candidates are colloquially grouped by the media as the teal independents, reflecting the campaign colour chosen by some (but not all) of its candidates. The colour teal has been explained as indicating their policies are "a shade between blue Liberal and green."

Background

The convenor of Climate 200 is Simon Holmes à Court, who was a part of Josh Frydenberg's fundraising group, the Kooyong 200.[3]

With a background in renewable energy and climate policy, Holmes à Court wrote an article in 2018 that was critical of the Coalition's efforts to keep coal fired power stations open.[4] Holmes à Court was thrown out of Frydenburg's group within 24 hours after the article was released, but this gave him an insight into major fundraising for campaigns.

Election campaigns

2019 federal election

In the lead-up to the 2019 federal election the group raised over $500,000.

2022 federal election

For the 2022 federal election, the group provided funding for twenty-three candidates[5] who were either independent or running for minor parties, including most of the teal independents. Some of these candidates were also endorsed by Voices groups.[6] They also endorsed additional "values-aligned candidates" without funding them.

The focus of the group was to get more people on the crossbench who aimed to strengthen climate policy and the functioning of parliament.[6] [7]

The group announced a number of high-profile former MPs to join their advisory panel from across the political spectrum.[8]

In October 2021 the group announced that they had raised $2 million in 6 weeks.[9] By December 2021 that had grown to $6.5 million from 6,750 donors.[10] The group also conducted polling in some of the seats that they planned to support.[11]

Funded candidates

Incumbent Party
David PocockACT ACT (Senate)YesVarious
Kim RubensteinNo
Jo DyerSABoothbyNo
Nicolette BoeleNSWBradfieldNo
Kate HookNSWCalareNo
Claire Ferres MilesVicCaseyNo
Andrew WilkieTasClarkYesIndependent
Caz HeiseNSWCowperNo
Kate ChaneyWACurtinYes
Despi O'ConnorVicFlindersNo
Zoe DanielVicGoldsteinYes
Liz HabermannSAGreyNo
Georgia SteeleNSWHughesNo
Helen HainesVicIndiYesIndependent
Monique RyanVicKooyongYes
Sophie ScampsNSWMackellarYes
Rebekha SharkieSAMayoYes
Kylea TinkNSWNorth SydneyYes
Hanabeth LukeNSWPageNo
Leanne MinshullTasTasmania (Senate)NoVarious
Alex DysonVicWannonNo
Zali SteggallNSWWarringahYesIndependent
Allegra SpenderNSWWentworthYes

2022 Victorian state election

Climate 200 announced their support for a number of independent candidates in the Victorian state election. The candidates were Kate Lardner for Mornington, Melissa Lowe for Hawthorn, Sophie Torney for Kew, and Nomi Kaltmann for Caulfield.[12] No independents won seats at the election, with all incumbent independents being defeated.

Incumbent party!% 1st pref.!% 2CP!Elected! colspan="2"
Colours
Sarah FentonBellarineLabor4.58%[13]
Jacqui Hawkins BenambraLiberal31.70%49.06%[14]
Felicity FredericoBrightonLiberal9.10%[15]
Nomi KaltmannCaulfieldLiberal6.50%[16]
Melissa Lowe HawthornLabor19.98%[17]
Sophie TorneyKewLiberal21.10%[18]
Kate LardnerMorningtonLiberal22.42%49.30%[19]
Clarke Martin SandringhamLiberal6.91%[20]

2023 NSW state election

Incumbent party!% 1st pref.!% 2CP!Elected! colspan="1"
Colours
Victoria DavidsonLane CoveLiberal20.38%$9,891.50[21] [22] |-|Joeline Hackman|Manly| || Liberal|27.19%|45.15%|| ! $9,850.00|[23] [24] |-|Helen Conway|North Shore| || Liberal|21.85%|44.31%|| ! $9,891.50|[25] [26] |-|Jacqui Scruby|Pittwater| || Liberal|35.86%|49.34%|| ! $9,886.00|[27] [28] |-|Karen Freyer|Vaucluse| || Liberal|17.06%|37.12%|| ! $0.00|[29] [30] |-|Judith Hannan |Wollondilly| || Liberal|25.94%|51.52%|| ! $3,285.70|[31] [32] |-|Alex Greenwich |Sydney| || Independent| 41.1%| 65.6%|| ! $3,000.00| [33] |}

In total Climate 200 Pty Ltd together with Simon and Karina Holmes a Court directly donated $45,804.70 to six candidates between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023. The total individual donations to Climate 200 Pty Ltd during the campaign were $166,665.59 of which $49,727.28 originated from individuals not enrolled to vote in New South Wales.[34]

Colours
Elizabeth Farrelly1.32%[35]

Reception

Climate 200 is a fund that distributes resources to its chosen candidates; however, there are many who claim that it is a political party.[36] [37] Holmes à Court rejected this notion in a February 2022 National Press Club address. He says that the money that the candidates receive have no strings attached and Climate 200 has no control over them.[38] In September 2021, Senator Andrew Bragg wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission to ask them to ensure that group were fulfilling all the requirements for disclosures for political donations.[39] In December 2021, the federal parliament passed a law to require "significant third parties" to register if they spend more than $250,000 on electoral expenditure in a year.[40]

There is a view that Climate 200 is a vehicle for people opposed to the Liberal Party to defeat it in seats that are unwinnable by the Australian Labor Party. The Australian Financial Review in February 2022 described Climate 200 as "an anti-Liberal Party fundraising vehicle controlled by renewable-energy advocate Simon Holmes à Court [which is running] Independents funded by Mr Holmes à Court ... in about 20 Liberal-held seats...".[41] Antony Green, ABC chief elections analyst, stated in April 2022 that these independents are running in "winnable seats ... but these are seats that Labor would never win, the Greens wouldn't win — these are safe Liberal seats."[42]

There were 22 candidates supported by Climate 200 at the 2022 Australian Federal Election.[43] 15 contested Coalition incumbents, 3 were independents who held previously Liberal held seats, and 2 were senate candidates in the ACT where they contested the seat then held by Zed Seselja.[44] [45] Wilkie and Leanne Minshull, an independent Senate candidate in Tasmania, were the only two that not directly contesting Coalition held seats. Independents with similar platforms to those endorsed by Climate 200 who ran in Labor held seats, such as Sarina Kilham in Grayndler held by Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Labor Party, were not endorsed.[46] Jo Dyer, the supported candidate in Boothby, a Liberal seat indicated she would support a Labor minority government,[47] and Dr Monique Ryan, the supported candidate in Kooyong, then held by Josh Frydenberg, is a former Labor member.[48]

People involved

Advisors

Donors

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Climate 200: Fighting for science-based climate policy. 2022-07-26. www.climate200.com.au. en.
  2. News: 2022-02-16 . $7 million war chest to challenge sitting Liberals on climate comes with 'no strings attached', says financier . en-AU . ABC News. 2022-05-18.
  3. Web site: Turner. Brook. 2021-10-29. Simon Holmes à Court: ‘If it works, the payoff will be enormous’. 2021-12-16. Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  4. Web site: 2018-04-09. Why Liddell is likely to close in 2022, and why you shouldn’t care Simon Holmes à Court. 2021-10-13. The Guardian. en.
  5. Web site: Climate 200 supported candidates . 2022-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220521125400/https://www.climate200.com.au/candidates . 2022-05-21 . www.climate200.com.au . en-AU.
  6. Web site: O'Malley. Nick. 2021-09-03. Political forces back independent candidates in climate change power bid. 2021-10-13. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  7. Web site: 2020-11-23 . Inside the fight to control the climate agenda in the next parliament . 2021-10-13 . Crikey . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2021-09-08 . Former Liberal MP Julia Banks will join Climate 200 group to support independents . 2021-10-13 . The Guardian . en.
  9. Web site: 2021-10-07. Climate 200 raises $2m in six weeks to help independents but expects Liberal party ‘interference’. 2021-10-13. The Guardian. en.
  10. Web site: Subscribe to The Australian Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps. 2021-12-20. en-AU.
  11. Web site: 2021-08-23. Voters in Sydney’s Liberal ‘heartland’ more worried about climate than Covid, polling suggests. 2021-10-13. The Guardian. en.
  12. Web site: Climate 200 supported candidates . 30 September 2022 . www.climate200.com.au . en-AU.
  13. https://www.yourvoiceforbellarine.com.au/ Sarah Fenton's Website
  14. https://twitter.com/jachawkinss Jacqui Hawkins's Twitter Account
  15. https://felicity4brighton.com.au/ Felicity Frederico's Website
  16. https://nomi4caulfield.com/ Nomi Kaltmann's Website
  17. https://www.mel4hawthorn.com.au/ Melissa Lowe's Website
  18. https://www.sophie4kew.com.au/ Sophie Torney's Website
  19. https://www.katelardner.com.au/ Kate Lardner's Website
  20. https://www.clarkemartin.com.au/ Clarke Martin's Website
  21. https://www.victoriadavidson.com.au/ Victoria Davidson's Website
  22. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023, 'Victoria Anne Davidson'
  23. https://www.joelinehackman.com.au/ Joeline Hackman's Website
  24. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023 'Joeline May Hackman'
  25. https://www.helenconway.com.au/ Helen Conway's Website
  26. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023, 'Helen Maree Conway'
  27. https://www.jacquiscruby.com.au/ Jacqui Scruby's Website
  28. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023 'Jacqueline Claire Scruby'
  29. https://www.karenfreyer.com.au/ Karen Freyer's Website
  30. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023
  31. https://www.judyhannan.com.au/ Judith Hannan's Website
  32. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023, 'Judith Anne Hannan'
  33. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023, 'Alexander Hart Greenwich'
  34. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/disclosures/pre-election-period-donation-disclosure/2023-nsw-state-election-donations/ New South Wales Electoral Commission Pre-election donations disclosures between 1 October 2022 and 25 March 2023, 'Recipient: Climate 200 Pty Ltd'
  35. https://www.elizabethfarrelly.com.au/ Elizabeth Farrelly Independents's Website
  36. Web site: High-profile seats ‘under attack’ from Climate 200 ‘so-called independents’ .
  37. Web site: 2021-10-07 . Climate 200 raises $2m in six weeks to help independents but expects Liberal party ‘interference’ . 2022-04-09 . The Guardian . en.
  38. News: 2022-02-16 . $7 million war chest to challenge sitting Liberals on climate comes with 'no strings attached', says financier . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-04-04.
  39. Web site: Harris . Rob . 1 September 2021 . Electoral Commission urged to probe funding of 'Voices for' movements . 30 November 2021 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  40. Web site: 2021-12-13 . Morrison government urges MPs to dob in climate and 'Voices for' groups under new donor rules . 2021-12-16 . The Guardian . en.
  41. https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/independent-amasses-684-000-for-tilt-at-zimmerman-s-liberal-seat-20220220-p59y1p Independent amasses $684,000 for tilt at Zimmerman's Liberal seat
  42. News: Hawley . Sam . Smiley . Stephen . Who are the 'teal independents'? Your questions answered about the candidates fighting for some of Australia's wealthiest electorates . 20 April 2022 . ABC . ABC . 20 April 2022.
  43. Web site: Climate 200 supported candidates . Climate 200 . Climate 200 . 20 April 2022 . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503080938/https://www.climate200.com.au/candidates . dead .
  44. Web site: Search Senators and Members . Parliament of Australia . Parliament of Australia . 20 April 2022.
  45. News: King . Rosie . Radford . Antoinette . Former Wallabies captain David Pocock running as independent candidate for ACT Senate seat . 20 April 2022 . ABC . ABC . 17 December 2021.
  46. Web site: Sarina Kilham - Your Vote Your Voice . Sarina Kilham . Sarina Kilham, Independent Candidate for Grayndler for Your Vote Your Voice . 20 April 2022.
  47. News: Henderson . Gerard . How independent are candidates if they have hidden past links to the Labor Party? . 20 April 2022 . The Australian . 16 April 2022.
  48. News: Gordon . Josh . Kooyong independent insists she is ‘cleanskin’ despite former Labor membership . 20 April 2022 . The Age. 21 December 2021.
  49. Web site: 2021-11-25. ‘Keep the bastards honest’: former Australian Democrats leader joins high-profile group backing independents. 2021-11-26. The Guardian. en.
  50. Web site: 2021-10-01. Windsor and Oakeshott ride again in push to bring climate to forefront. 2021-10-13. Crikey. en-US.
  51. Web site: Hutchinson. Stephen Brook, Samantha. 2021-12-05. Milgrom family take a stand to save the planet. 2021-12-06. The Age. en.