Independent MP Zali Steggall admits GetUp! did good job of raising climate change awareness

Independent MP Zali Steggall has acknowledged the role of lobby group GetUp! in raising climate change awareness amid her election battle with ex-prime minister Tony Abbott — but denied that it was wholly ­responsible for her victory.

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Independent MP Zali Steggall has acknowledged the role of lobby group GetUp! in raising climate change awareness amid her election battle with ex-prime minister Tony Abbott — but denied that it was wholly ­responsible for her victory.

The Olympic skier turned barrister ousted Mr Abbott from his once-safe Liberal seat of Warringah, with 44.63 per cent of the primary vote (with 78.35 per cent of the count completed).

Ms Steggall, who had repeatedly tried to distance from herself GetUp! as it campaigned strongly to end Mr Abbott’s 25-year hold on Warringah, yesterday said the activist group helped to raise awareness of climate change — an issue that was central to her campaign.

“I think some of (GetUp!’s) aspects have been divisive … but on the other hand they have raised the profile of climate change,” Ms Steggall said.

“They are here to raise awareness of issues and, for me, that is part of democracy. We are all the better for having­ the variety of issues and debate and opinions at the table.”

Zali Steggall with husband Tim Irving and their dog Charli at Manly Beach on Sunday. Picture: Damian Shaw

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But Ms Steggall denied Warringah voters’ concerns about climate change had been exclusively fuelled by GetUp!.

“No, climate change has been at the corner of concerns for this electorate for some time,” she said. “The swing that there already was against Mr Abbott at the last election was considerable.”

GetUp! targeted seven conservative seats across the country, but focused heavily on Warringah where the group hosted a “thank you” event for its ­volunteers on Sunday.

A video of a GetUp! ­meeting to discuss ousting Mr Abbott­ — held before Ms Steggall nominated to run — shows hundreds of Warringah voters taking part in a cult-like chant shouting: “I believe that we will win.”

GetUp! efforts against Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in Queensland and Attorney-General Christian Porter in Western ­Australia completely backfired, with both MPs increasing their margin. But the group’s other targets of Greg Hunt, Josh Frydenberg and Kevin Andrews­ in Victoria and Nicolle­ Flint in South Australia, suffered swings against them.

Ms Steggall and husband Tim Irving at Manly Beach. Picture: Damian Shaw

GetUp! national director Paul ­Oosting said: “Our members are telling us that they’re proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Ms Steggall said her first step as the newly elected member for Warringah was to talk to “the government of the day” about her climate­ ­policy vision.

“My congratulations are with Scott Morrison, I think he’s done a great job … during the campaign and we need to get on with the job of policies­,” she said.

Ms Steggall said she had previously indicated her preference for a Coalition government, and denied suggestions­ that Labor’s poor poll performance showed that the nation did not want action on climate.

“I think what was rejected was Labor’s economic policy­,” she said.

“Scott Morrison agrees we have to act on climate change … the major person who has been against climate­ change action has been Mr Abbott — I ­actually think it’s a message from this electorate and the handbrake is now off.”

Mr Abbott kept a low profile on Sunday, leaving his house in the morning to go for a bike ride.