Emilie Flynn and Mitch Pope named as Greens’ candidates in Corio and Corangamite

The Greens have unveiled its candidates for the federal seats of Corangamite and Corio – and one is up for her second big battle in a matter of months.

The boundaries of the Corangamite electorate were redrawn ahead of this year's federal election. Source: Australian Electoral Commission (2024).

A Greens council candidate who went within a few hundred votes of defeating the man who would become Geelong mayor is back for another tilt at politics, this time at a federal level where she will take on Australia’s deputy prime minister.

Emilie Flynn has been preselected in Corio, while fellow local climate advocate Mitch Pope has been named as the party’s Corangamite candidate.

The Greens received 15 per cent of first preference votes in both seats at 2022 election and the party’s preferences could play a particularly important role in whether Labor’s Libby Coker or the Liberal’s Darcy Dunstan claims victory in Corangamite.

Ms Flynn, an operations and project co-ordinator at Geelong Sustainability, stood in the Kardinia ward against Stretch Kontelj at last year’s council election.

She came up short by little more than 500 votes and this time around she faces an even tougher task against Richard Marles.

She said her key goal was to bring what she views as the most important issues facing the community to the forefront of conversation.

In addition to climate action, that includes action on housing, addressing the cost of living, and highlighting the plight of Palestinians.

“We need immediate and meaningful action to protect communities like Geelong from the worsening impacts of climate change, from extreme weather events to rising sea levels,” Ms Flynn said.

“Housing is a human right, not a commodity for profit, and it’s time our policies reflected that.

“Our foreign policy should always centre on human dignity, equality, and the pursuit of lasting peace in places like Palestine.”

Emilie Flynn and Mitch Pope have been preselected by the Greens in the Corio and Corangamite electorates respectively. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Pope, a Bellarine native, is a campaigner for the Otway Coastal Environment Action Network, which put him front and centre in the fight against seismic blasting in the Otway Basin.

He said he wanted to see a future where people’s needs and the environment were prioritised over the profits of large corporations.

“The major parties are worried about upsetting fossil fuel corporations and wealthy property investors, instead of enacting change to support those doing it tough and acting on the climate crisis,” he said.

“I am dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and creating a fairer future for all, by fighting to end new coal and gas, expanding public renewables as well as capping rents, investing in essential services and taxing big corporations.

“Our oceans and local coastline is continually threatened by new offshore fossil fuel development. The impacts of gas and oil spills, and the burning of fossil fuels is devastating our climate and marine environment, and it must end.”

Corangamite has become an increasingly urban electorate in recent years and is currently held by Ms Coker by 7.6 per cent.

A boundary redraw last year notionally increased her margin to 7.9 per cent.

Mr Marles, Australia’s Defence Minister on top of his deputy duties, has been Corio MP since 2007 and holds the seat by 12.8 per cent.

Originally published as Emilie Flynn and Mitch Pope named as Greens’ candidates in Corio and Corangamite