NSW politics: Vaucluse candidate Karen Freyer in ‘discussions’ with Climate 200

The Climate 200 kingmaker believes NSW could see a teal wave if the early energy continues to build ahead of the NSW election in March.

Climate 200 convener Simon Holmes à Court believes NSW could see “a teal wave” if early momentum continues - as an independent candidate for Vaucluse confirms she had engaged with the group to discuss financial backing.

Independent candidate Karen Freyer confirmed to the Wentworth Courier “very high level discussions” had taken place with Climate 200 as she seeks to shake up the safe Liberal seat in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs and emulate the success of the Teal candidates at the federal election.

Climate 200's Simon Holmes a Court. Picture: Josie Hayden

Vaucluse encompasses all of the Wentworth federal electorate, which teal candidate Allegra Spender won in a shock victory over incumbent Liberal Dave Sharma.

The community crowd-funded initiative raised $13 million to bankroll campaigns for teal candidates at this year’s federal election, with Mr Holmes à Court previously saying he was considering funding candidates for the Victorian and NSW state elections to harness the momentum.

Karen Freyer. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Climate 200 is supporting four candidates in next month’s Victoria state election in a bid to unseat major party candidates. Mr Holmes à Court said at a book launch for his new book that he hoped to do the same in NSW.

“In NSW we are really pleased at how many communities have contacted us at a relatively early stage,” he said.

“NSW is red hot for Teal. We’re excited to keep the Teal wave rolling and we’re excited to contribute to those campaigns.”

Candidates backed by Climate 200 must meet the group’s criteria on gender, integrity and climate.

However Mr Holmes à Court has insisted the group will not define policy for candidates and backs campaigns which have proven they can raise money and rally community support.

“It’s up to those community groups to form and find those candidates,” Mr Holmes à Court said. “[But] if all these pieces come together, it could be a teal wave in NSW.”

Ms Freyer, who announced she would contest the seat in early October, said she had had preliminary discussions with Climate 200 to back her campaign and believed Vaucluse was another “safe seat” which had been “ignored” by the major parties.

“Climate 200 can help level the playing field,” Ms Freyer said. “When you run as an Independent everything – money, reach, timing, preferences and logistics – is stacked against you.”

The former journalist and political strategist worked for City of Sydney’s Kerryn Phelps and was campaign manager for Yvonne Weldon, the first Indigenous person on City of Sydney council.

Ms Freyer said she was following the playbook of Teal candidates and planned to hold a series of ‘kitchen table conversations’ across the electorate to hear about issues important to residents.

Her campaign website lists climate action as a key priority, but the former Ascham student and eastern suburbs native had spotlighted overdevelopment as her core concern.

“I’ve been developing my policy platform based on conversations with residents. What I’ve heard so far is an overall frustration – with the inappropriate level of influence developers have over our planning system, and with politicians who ignore us and don’t listen to the community they are supposed to represent.”