Federal election: Green’s Mandy Nolan’s controversial claims about ALP’s Justine Elliot

An ad for Greens candidate Mandy Nolan has made claims about the Labor incumbent which Justine Elliot says are untrue.

Greens Candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan has placed an ad which Labor incumbent Justine Elliot says is full of false claims.

An ad in the Byron Echo paper for Green’s candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan, has caused a stir with the Labor incumbent Justine Elliot saying the claims made in the ad are false.

The ad states: “The Coalition and Labor cannot be trusted on climate. They’ve just approved 114 new coal and gas mines.”

It further reads: “We’ve had the same backbencher for 17 years” and “this community deserves someone who will push for climate action and not someone who votes to approve more coal and gas.”

Mrs Elliot took to social media to express her disappointed in Ms Nolan for “deliberately misrepresenting and attempting to erase another woman’s achievements.”

“While we’re all fighting so hard to get rid of Scott Morrison, Mandy Nolan is spending her time inventing self-serving lies in a desperate attempt to gain power,” Mrs Elliot said.

Regarding the first claim the party had the same backbencher for 17 years, Mrs Elliot said she had served as the minister for ageing in the 2007 Labor Government before becoming Parliamentary Secretary for Trade after the 2010 election.

When asked to respond Ms Nolan said: “We’ve had the same MP for 17 years. She is a backbencher,

“For as long as our local rep is on the backbench, this electorate doesn’t get a look in.

“I will be a loud voice on the crossbench to stand up for this community.”

Regarding the claim the Coalition and Labor had approved 114 new coal and gas mines Mrs Elliot said the claim was a “blatant lie.”

“Ministers in governments approve mining projects, not the parliament,” she said.

“Federal Labor has not been in government since 2013.”

Richmond MP Justine Elliot in Byron Bay. Picture: Liana Boss

In response Ms Nolan said Labor was consistently backing new coal and gas at state and federal level.

She said this was because the two major parties were beholden to corporate donations, noting the Adani mine approved by the Queensland state Labor government.

“Albanese has publicly stated that he’s not going to stand in the way of new coal projects,” Ms Nolan said.

Regarding the final claim the incumbent votes in favour of coal and gas Mrs Elliot reiterated the ministers approve projects, not parliament.

“Federal Labor has not been in government since 2013, but when we were in government I joined with Janelle Saffin, the former Member for Page, and delivered the ‘water trigger’ in amendments to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Mrs Elliot said.

“The water trigger gives greater protection to the environment from coal and gas mining proponents.”

Greens candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan. Picture: Martin Ollman

Ms Nolan said there were many ways for parliament to vote on more coal and gas.

“One example is Labor and Liberals voting to give $50 million in public money to mine the Beetaloo Basin,” Ms Nolan said.

“Voting to subsidise coal and gas with public funds, makes these projects viable.

“Parliament is propping up these projects.

“I don’t take corporate donations from coal and gas so I can push the next government further and faster on climate.”

Despite the stir the ad has caused, both candidates have placed the other as second preference on their how to vote cards.