Liberal Party try to stop teen climate protesters at Erina
Liberal Party volunteers have tried to shut down three teenage girls quietly holding home made climate change protest signs outside a polling booth. Here’s why.
Central Coast
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Liberal party polling volunteers have tried to stop a quiet climate change protest by three teenage girls outside the Robertson electorate’s busiest polling booth at Erina.
The teens had been standing beside the footpath holding signs calling for more action on climate change when they were approached by a man in a Liberal Party tshirt who said their signs were “unauthorised” and they would have to move away.
Bronte Mills of Matcham, Leila Mangos of Point Frederick and Jess Taylor of Umina Beach said they had checked the rules before holding their protest and had kept within those rules.
Officer in Charge of the polling station, Geoff Johnson, came out to speak to the girls and said they were free to hold their posters where they were so long as they did not obstruct voters and kept away from the political party volunteers handing out how to votes.
One of the young protesters, Leila Mangos, said that while she and her friends could not yet vote, “this was the climate election” and they were passionate about raising awareness.
“People are calling this the referendum for our future and today people have the chance to vote for the leaders who will fix our environment before it becomes too late,” she said.
The girls were not the only ones concerned about the future of the planet.
Outspoken Anglican minister Father Rod Bower is hoping to land a senate seat for the Climate Action Now party.
He said the election campaign had been fascinating in that independents like himself had “caucused around climate change”.
“They’ve come together on this issue and it has really changed the political landscape,” he said.
“If Labor wins as they are expected to do and don’t step up to the plate on climate change, the climate independents will hold the balance of power in three years time,” he said.
Some voters agreed, including Merilyn Bowden of Erina who said the biggest issue affecting her vote was climate change.
“Not enough is being done and no one is taking it seriously and for me that’s the number one priority,” Ms Bowden said.
Another voter who identified himself only as Ben said the environment and climate change were the key concern for his family.
“The last few terms of the coalition have done almost nothing about climate change,” he said.
“They just keep obfuscating. Something must be done.”
Sarah Bruce of Green Point told the Express Advocate that “climate change action, innovative policies and a little bit of compassion for refugees would determine her vote.
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