Independent Kim Rubenstein has been given a perfect score as the ACT’s best Senate candidate to deliver action on the climate crisis – which she said was the top priority for Canberra voters.
Vote Earth Now, a not-for-profit organisation to fight climate change, has analysed the climate policies of election candidates throughout Australia.
It gave Professor Rubenstein a 100 percent rating.
This compared with a rating of 89 per cent for Greens candidate Tjanara Goreng Goreng, 63 percent for independent David Pocock, and 44 percent for Labor.
The ratings came after the Greens announced that they would direct their second preferences to Professor Rubenstein on the party’s Senate “How to Vote” cards.
Polling has shown that climate action is the most important issue for Canberrans in determining how they will vote in the election on 21 May, Professor Rubenstein observed.
Professor Rubenstein last week released a detailed policy outlining plans for a Climate Compact – styled on the ground-breaking 1983 Prices and Incomes Accord – to break the partisan policy deadlock and fast track a national consensus on climate action before the end of the year.
She said there was a growing recognition that she had the best policies and the professional skills to deliver results for Canberrans in the Senate, where independents will hold the balance of power in the new Parliament.
“There is no doubt that the number one issue for Canberrans is to see a breakthrough on the climate crisis after decades of partisan political games,” Professor Rubenstein said.
She said she would start work straight after the election to bring all stakeholders together to negotiate a Climate Compact.
“My plan … is about action, not words,” Professor Rubenstein said.
