Energy, housing take centre stage at Corangamite candidate forum

MORE than 150 community members gathered in Moolap last week to hear from some of Corangamite’s election hopefuls on their commitments to ease the cost-of-living pressures facing locals across the electorate.

Hosted by the Real Deal Geelong Alliance, a coalition of 12 local organisations, the forum gave incumbent Corangamite MP Libby Coker, the Libertarian Party’s Paul Barker, Voices for Corangamite’s Kate Lockhart and the Greens’ Mitch Pope an opportunity to hear directly from those struggling to keep up with the rising cost of housing, groceries and bills.

Liberal Party candidate Darcy Dunstan did not attend the forum, and an empty chair was set alongside the other attending candidates.

Housing affordability and strategies to reduce energy bills were a key focus of the forum, with the alliance seeking commitments from each candidate to support the Renew Australia for All campaign.

This campaign calls for an urgent $5 billion household energy bills savings plan to support home energy upgrades and improve access to rooftop solar and batteries for those hit hardest by the cost of living; a $50 billion commitment over 10 years to repower all Australian homes with renewables and energy-efficient improvements; and targeted cost of living support for low-income households and disadvantaged communities.

The Albanese Labor Government last week announced its re-election commitment to invest $2.3 billion to make home batteries cheaper, which it says could cut energy bills for households, small businesses and community facilities by up to 90 per cent.

Ms Coker would not be drawn on further commitments on the energy bills savings plan but said there was merit to it, and that she and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles would work with the Real Deal Geelong Alliance on the plan.

Ahead of the forum, both Mr Pope and Ms Lockhart called for bold policy reform to ease the cost-of-living pressures, with both criticising Australia’s taxation system that allows major companies to avoid paying “their fair share of tax” while “everyday Aussies are doing it tough”.

“Small tax cuts that barely cover a couple of cartons of milk each week won’t fix the housing crisis or bring down energy bills,” Ms Lockhart said.

“If the 50 largest companies in Australia paid a minimum 10 per cent tax, we could raise over $60 billion per year – money that should be invested back into communities, housing, healthcare, education and clean energy.”

Both indicated their support for the Renew Australia for All energy bills savings plan, while Mr Barker stated he did not support the savings plan because it was a market intervention.

“It’s important for democracy that we are able to hear directly from candidates about their party’s policies and the personal opinions of independent candidates to allow for informed choices when we vote,” Real Deal Geelong community organiser Sally Fisher said.

“We thank all candidates who made themselves available and responded to our Alliance’s policy solutions, which are designed to help those who are doing it hardest in this cost-of-living crisis.”