Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall lock horns in lively Warringah debate
Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall locked horns in a fiery debate in front of a lively audience at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club on Thursday evening. Both landed punches but there was no knockout blow as they debated over a range of issues.
- Warringah: GetUp open battle HQ near Tony Abbott’s office
- Abbott slams offensive posters as ‘a new nastiness in politics’
Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall locked horns in a fiery debate in front of a lively audience at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club this evening.
Both landed punches but there was no knockout blow as they debated climate change, the Beaches Link tunnel and same-sex marriage and much more.
Moderator David Speers had to calm the Steggall supporters in the audience on several occasions as they cheered and jeered responses.
“This is a really exciting time for Warringah,” Ms Steggall said in her opening statement.
“We have a chance to choose, it is time for a new era. It is time to stop looking back to our past and look to our future.”
In his opening remarks Mr Abbott warned a “protest vote in Warringah” would result in “a Labor government in Canberra”.
He added: “The challenge is to make the best part of the world even better.
“That’s why I am so passionate about the tunnel because all of us are sick of spending so much of our day in traffic gridlock.
“The best thing that government can do to improve the lives of everyone around here is to get the tunnel built as quickly as possible.”
The first question from the floor asked what the candidates hoped to achieve if elected.
“I want to give all of us a better future by getting the tunnel done,” Mr Abbott said. “The tunnel needs a champion. I am 120 per cent in favour of it and no one else running in this federal seat is.”
“I support the tunnel contrary to all the advertising you put out,” Ms Steggall said in response.
“What we do need is to focus on minimising the environmental impacts and making sure the stacks have filtration.”
Climate change was also a hot topic where the difference between the candidates was perhaps most clear.
“We are all conservationists,” Mr Abbott said. “I am very proud of my record locally and nationally to give us a better environment but climate change is an economic issues as well as a climate issue and I think that it is important we do the right thing by the planet.
“But what we can’t do is do the right thing by the planet at the expense of our neighbour.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with people in Warringah who think that climate change is the only thing that really matters.
“And I’ve got to say they can perhaps afford to think that.
“But I’ve spoken to a lot of people here in Warringah who say I can’t afford to keep seeing my power bill go up and up and up because of climate change policies. So it is important to get the balance right.”
In response Ms Steggall said: “What we have to remember is that climate change and the impact of climate change will not discriminate. It is not going to pick out which country it impacts, it will be all of us. The cost already to the economy is $18 billion from climate change impacts. It is estimated to be $130 billion by 2030 if we continue with the Coalition policy.”
She said we needed to take advice from the experts and science and said work was needed on renewables.
Mr Abbott questioned the cost of more experts.
“I think we subcontract out too much to experts already,” Mr Abbott responded. “I think we have a democratic deficit in this country and I want the public to be in charge of all policy that impacts deeply on our lives.
“Our power bills have gone up because of things like the renewable energy targets.”
The candidates were also quizzed on what they had personally done to reduce their emissions.
Ms Steggall said she was investigating getting solar panels and said she would like to drive an electric car.
“I do have to drive five kids around and I’m not even sure there is a seven seater that exists in Australia,” she said.
Mr Abbott said that like 80 per cent of Australians he is connected to the mains and drives a normal car.
“So I can’t say we are doing more than the average person.”
He added: “The problem with the government doing more is that inevitably you will pay the price.
“Let’s consider the Labor policy, which I presume Zali supports, which is to have 50 per cent new cars electric by 2030. The only way you can change the economics of buying a car is to heavily subsidise electric cars which means taxpayers pay more or you heavily penalise non electric cars which means motorists pay more. So either way if you do anything other than let the market look after this you pay more.”
Another question from the floor asked what each candidate could achieve in their respective positions in parliament.
Ms Steggall said as an independent she would be able to hold the government to account.
“Independents take the voice of their electorate to parliament we can put up private member’s bills and we can make sure all the promises made by the major parties are held to account when it comes to being in government.”
Mr Abbott argued as a backbencher in a Liberal government he could achieve far more for the area than Ms Steggall could as an Independent.
“Whatever you can persuade your colleagues to do, you have a team to get it done and I’ve found I’m persuasive over the years.
The only way that an Independent can hold the government to account is if there is a hung parliament. And if there is a hung parliament then there will be a Shorten Government and that’s the last thing this area should want.”
There was also a question on same-sex marriage with Ms Steggall telling Mr Abbott he had disrespected the electorate by walking out of parliament when the vote was held.
Mr Abbott said he had respected the views of the electorate by not voting against it, adding that he had facilitated the passage of the bill.
“It was my policy to have a plebiscite and that brought about change in the best possible way,” he said
Ms Steggall was the first to make her closing statement, telling the audience she was committed to Warringah.
“I’m committed to helping small businesses and families in the area. I am committed to solving the problem of congestion … I want to be available to the people of Warringah. It will be an open door, there will be regular public forums for you to share your views and concerns and I can make sure I am representing you in Canberra.”
Mr Abbott said it was vital to ensure a Liberal government remained in Canberra.
“The only way you can get results for our country is if you are part of a government.
“Not everything this government has done has been perfect but we’ve got the big things right. “Our country is safe, our borders are secure and our economy is growing.
“Jobs are increasing and our budget is finally coming back into surplus.
Aussie quartet make sailing history with win in women’s America’s Cup
For the first time in 174 years Australian women have set sail in an America’s Cup. How the quartet on Andoo Australia are faring as the Pool B Racing begins.
Future Olympians! Try-fectas, close calls in Next Gen 7s battles
There were blowouts, close calls, a hot boot and multiple try-fectas in the opening round of the Next Gen Sevens rugby series in Sydney. Stars, great photos and Rd 1 result wrap.