CLIMATE change, government transparency, and land and water management dominated a marathon candidates’ forum at Wangaratta last night.
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Four of the five candidates for the state seat of Ovens Valley met about 70 voters at the Victorian Farmers Federation forum. They were grilled for two hours on many topics.
Climate change was raised several times by an audience made up largely of Greens supporters and the farming community — groups whose often-contrasting views threatened some fiery moments.
Nationals MP Tim McCurdy said Greens policies were “extremist” and farmers were the nation’s greatest environmentalists.
Greens backers also quizzed Australian Country Alliance candidate Julian Fidge on why he had labelled the party dangerous. He said he believed they “went too far”.
On climate change, Dr Fidge said he supported renewable energy targets because it didn’t matter “what’s causing the warming”.
“We have to leave the world in the best possible shape we can,” he said.
Mr McCurdy said while warming science “could well be right”, changes needed to be made on a global basis while the Victorian Coalition looked after small business.
Greens candidate James McCaffrey said the federal government needed to retain the Renewable Energy Target.
Questions on rural rates and transparency led to discussion of accountability, with Mr McCaffrey, Dr Fidge and independent Ray Dyer backing more measures to keep all levels of government more answerable to the public.
But Mr McCurdy questioned that with the ombudsman, the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission and an auditor-general, “how many steps do we need?”
Farmers asked how young people could be encouraged to stay on the land, to which Mr Dyer said tourism was the best option.
Questions on abortion almost erupted what was until then a civil debate, with Dr Fidge taking umbrage to a line of questioning deemed too personal by moderator Pat Larkin.
All candidates said they were pro-choice.
Mr McCurdy and Dr Fidge were the night’s strongest performers, although Dr Fidge was forced to acknowledge his past on Wangaratta Council with a question on how he could ensure no “Geoff Shaw-style” antics.
He said the Wang-aratta Council now operated much better than it had before.
Labor’s Gail Cholosznecki did not attend but offered what Mr Larkin called a “genuine, sincere apology”.
