Simon Holmes a Court’s climate cabal of independents in $20m Liberals hunt

Climate activist Simon Holmes a Court says he is on track to campaign against 10 Liberal MPs, including Josh Frydenberg and Angus Taylor.

Simon Holmes a Court says ‘there are now 6200 donors focused on getting the right ­people in parliament so we can move Australia forward on a number of issues’. Picture: Aaron Francis

Climate activist Simon Holmes a Court says he is on track to raise up to $20m to campaign against Liberal MPs at the next election, with Josh Frydenberg and Energy Minister Angus Taylor among at least 10 government members in former safe seats who will face an onslaught from cashed-up ­independents.

Mr Holmes a Court, the son of billionaire businessman Robert Holmes a Court, said his Climate 200 organisation could back up to 15 independent candidates at the next election.

He said the group, which ­includes former Liberal Julia Banks and former independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Kerryn Phelps, was on the verge of raising $6m after this week receiving a $500,000 donation from retailer Naomi Milgrom, whose private company controls Sportsgirl, Sussan and Suzanne Grae.

Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor kept Julia Gillard in power by supporting her minority government instead of the Tony Abbott-led Coalition in a hung parliament after the 2010 poll.

Nick Fairfax has donated $100,000 to Climate 200 and Mr Homes a Court is hopeful of ­securing support from billionaire Atlassian co-founder Mike ­Cannon-Brookes.

Climate 200 is ready to begin funding independents in eight Liberal heartland seats in NSW and Victoria, including Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Kylea Tink in North Sydney, Sophie Scamps in Mackellar, Georgia Steele or Linda Seymour in ­Hughes and Penny Ackery in Mr Taylor’s regional NSW seat of Hume.

In Victoria, Climate 200 is readying to back former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel in Goldstein, Despi O’Connor in Flinders and a soon-to-be-unveiled candidate in the Treasurer’s seat of Kooyong.

“There are a couple of regional seats of interest and maybe a seat in South Australia as well, but that is in different stages of maturity,” Mr Holmes a Court said.

“There are now 6200 donors focused on getting the right ­people in parliament so we can move Australia forward on a number of issues.

“The issues we care about: a science-based response to climate change, integrity in politics, and gender equity and the treatment and safety of women.

“We don’t start campaigns and we don’t select candidates. We wait until we see a campaign that has maturity, has demonstrated runs on the board and has momentum. And then we ­turbocharge the campaigns,” he said. The group will also help campaign for independent MPs ­already in parliament such as Warringah MP Zali Steggall, Indi MP Helen Haines, Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie and Clark MP ­Andrew Wilkie.

Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender.

Mr Holmes a Court, a clean ­energy investor and director of the Smart Energy Council, said he considered himself a “Menzian Liberal” who had lost faith in the modern Coalition.

“I would have been a Menzies voter. When I read the ideals of the party, I go ‘that’s me’,” he said.

“I’m a big believer in markets, a big believer in humans flourishing and individuals having the opportunities to make the most of themselves. I don’t see the current government being faithful to the Liberal ideals at all.”

Mackellar MP Jason Falinski said Mr Holmes a Court was wrongly claiming Climate 200 was full of disaffected Liberals, calling it a “left-wing front group”.

“They have worked out in these electorates, if they stand up and said they were standing for the Greens or Labor they wouldn’t get votes, so they pretend they are ­independents. And they are not. They are not liberal independents, they are clearly left-wing.

“Zali Steggall has voted the vast majority of the time with the Labor Party in the federal parliament.

“The big question is: why are you guys trying to be something you are not? Why not just tell ­people the truth and let the cards fall where they may.”

Mr Falinski said if Mr Holmes a Court was really a Menzian Liberal he would publicise his views on the AUKUS agreement, nat­ional security policy and the ­economy.

“I haven’t heard him say a single thing on all those big issues,” he said. “For him it is climate change solves everything.”

With the independents claiming the Liberal MPs they are targeting vote the same way as Barnaby Joyce, Mr Falinski said it was actually the Nationals ­leader who voted with pro-climate Liberals.

“I was in favour of net-zero by 2050 and Barnaby Joyce was against it. And guess what? The government announced it only two months ago,” Mr Falinski said.

“So I think the truth is that Barnaby Joyce votes with me.”

Mr Holmes a Court said Scott Morrison’s backing of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to run for Warringah would backfire in Victoria.

“Down here in Victoria, she is known as the premier who let Covid out and is under a cloud for corruption,” he said.

He said his local MP, Mr Frydenberg, would face a battle to hold his seat, after the pro-climate independent Oliver Yates won 9 per cent of the vote at the last election.

“The two biggest swings against sitting Liberals at the last election were Tony Abbott and Josh Frydenberg,” he said.

“We will now have a much stronger campaign – the volunteer base is warmed up and ready to go.”