Emilie Flynn to contest Corio for the Greens

CLIMATE professional Emilie Flynn will contest the federal seat of Corio for the Greens in the upcoming 2025 election, aiming to bring key community issues to the forefront of the political conversation.

Ms Flynn, who came within 3 per cent of securing a Geelong Council seat in a recent election, will challenge Deputy Prime Minister and long-time sitting member Richard Marles.

She said her campaign will focus on local concerns such as the proposed Viva Gas Import Terminal, as well as broader issues including climate action, housing affordability and foreign policy.

“We need immediate and meaningful action to protect communities like Geelong from the worsening impacts of climate change, from extreme weather events to rising sea levels,” Ms Flynn said.

Ms Flynn is also advocating for housing reform, stating that housing should be treated as a human right rather than a commodity for profit. She believes that justice extends beyond domestic policies, shaping how Australia engages with the world. “Our foreign policy should always center on human dignity, equality, and the pursuit of lasting peace in places like Palestine,” she said.

Ms Flynn will be joined by Mitch Pope, who is contesting the seat of Corangamite.

Mr Pope, an environmental campaigner and eco-tour guide, has been a key figure in the fight against seismic blasting and offshore gas drilling along the Victorian coast. “I will fight to end new coal and gas, to protect our oceans and climate, as well as expand publicly owned renewable energy, freeze rents, invest in essential services, and to pay for it, we’ll make the big corporations pay their fair share of tax,” he said.