How Andrew Constance helped boost $1m teal fundraising blitz

A fundraising blitz to support teal candidates in the upcoming federal election has raised more than $1 million in less than three days – almost four times its target – after Liberal candidate Andrew Constance said a Dutton government would abandon Australia’s international commitment to set a 2035 emissions target.

Constance, the federal Liberal candidate for Gilmore and a former NSW transport minister, told a candidates’ forum in Malua Bay on the NSW South Coast on Monday that the Liberals would walk away from the Paris Agreement if elected.

Andrew Constance has walked back the comments he made at the Sky forum on Monday.Credit: James Brickwood

“In terms of our international obligations, they’re one thing – but don’t sell us out as you do it. 2035 Paris Agreement target – off the table by the Liberal Party,” Constance told the Sky forum, which also included teal candidate Kate Dezarnaulds.

After being contacted by this masthead, Constance backflipped on his comments, confirming a Dutton government would set a 2035 target.

“Coalition policy is clear. We will not be setting targets from opposition, we will be setting them from government,” he said.

Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Ted O’Brien confirmed that the Coalition remained committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and complying with the Paris Agreement’s requirement for interim targets.

“We will be required to do so in government,” O’Brien said. “The emissions reduction targets we set from government will consider the impact on the economy, the trajectory of emissions, and our own policies.”

Constance became the face of the NSW Black Summer bushfires after almost losing his South Coast home in the infernos that tore through the region in late 2019 and early 2020. In the aftermath, he said the “fire tsunami” was predominantly caused by climate change.

Climate 200, the major financial backer of the teal candidates, had already emailed tens of thousands of supporters on Monday, asking for support for “five independent candidates” to plug a funding gap for “massive advertising buys”.

The convenor of Climate 200, Simon Holmes a Court, had seized on suggestions that Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean, also a former NSW minister, would be sacked from his role under a Liberal government as the catalyst for his donations push.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume was asked on Monday if a Coalition government would retain Kean as chair of the authority after it released a report saying the opposition’s nuclear power plan would release an extra 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050.

“That’s not a decision for me,” Hume said. “But I cannot imagine that we possibly maintain a Climate Change Authority that has been so poorly, so badly politicised. It simply isn’t serving its purpose to provide independent advice to government on its climate change policy.”

After Constance’s comments were aired on Monday night on Sky, Holmes a Court sent a follow-up email to almost 40,000 Climate 200 supporters.

“On Monday, I was hoping we could raise the $269k needed to cover the gap needed to secure these spots in just three electorates,” Holmes a Court’s email said.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court.Credit: James Alcock

“But when I updated Climate 200 supporters on Constance’s comments, the response was off the charts – 2783 people have now donated $503k to this people-powered effort.”

By 6pm on Thursday, a Climate 200 spokesperson confirmed the group had raised $1,020,000 from more than 3000 donors.

The success of the teal movement at the last federal election was largely attributed to its ability to make climate change a key issue. The Liberals, however, have been convinced that climate change will not be a factor for voters in this election.

Holmes a Court said he wanted to “thank the Liberal candidate for Gilmore, Andrew Constance” for helping with Climate 200’s fundraising efforts.

“If you don’t remember the former NSW Liberal minister by name, maybe you recall him fighting back tears after the tragic Black Summer bushfires, calling on his party to accept the reality of climate change,” Holmes a Court wrote in an email to supporters.

In a statement, Constance said: “My position on climate change has not changed in any way since the Black Summer fires.

“As I have previously said on a number of occasions, we must have a balanced energy transition to reduce emissions. A plan that includes renewables, gas and zero-emissions nuclear will give Australian households, businesses and industry consistent, cheaper and cleaner power.

“This is the same approach as many countries around the world including the United Kingdom and countries throughout Europe.”

A senior NSW Liberal source not authorised to speak publicly said: “If Peter Dutton is unable to form government, then Andrew Constance, Ted O’Brien and Jane Hume can take personal responsibility.”

The federal government confirmed on Monday that it would not set a 2035 climate target, originally due in February, until September, after the federal election due by May.

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