Climate report adds heat to political pressure cooker in battleground seat of Bullwinkel

All eyes are on the fiercely contested new federal seat of Bullwinkel, where a curious collision of suburbs on Perth’s eastern fringe and Wheatbelt farming towns has created a political pressure cooker.

From live sheep exports to the fights over Perth Hills developments, the electorate is awash with polarising issues — and now a fresh climate report has upped the stakes.

New modelling reveals tens of thousands of residents in Bullwinkel face heightened risk from climate-driven disasters, throwing a volatile factor into an already high-stakes campaign.

This month, the Climate Council ranked Bullwinkel eighth on its list of the top 10 federal electorates with the most at-risk homes with threats from climate-driven extremes like floods, bushfires, cyclonic winds, and coastal inundation.

The analysis found 41 per cent of homes in the electorate were at risk, with nearly 13,000 residents at “high risk” of disaster. That would more than double to 30,000 by the end of the century if no action was taken to address climate change.

So what are the environmental credentials of the candidates and the parties they stand for in this tight three-cornered contest with Liberal candidate Matt Moran, Labor’s Trish Cook and Nationals Mia Davies?

The policy differences between the parties are stark, according to the Climate Council.

Councillor and economist Nicki Hutley said the climate crisis was literally at households’ doorsteps as worsening extreme weather risked people’s greatest assets.

The council said Labor had overseen a 180-degree turn on climate in the last parliament, with clear progress on renewable power and storage, clean transport and climate targets, while the Liberal-National Coalition had voted against every law to cut climate pollution in the past three years.

Conservation Council of WA policy and research manager Matt Berry said there were clear differences in the outcomes voters could expect from a Dutton government on the matter of nuclear power, mega-polluting gas projects, stronger nature laws, and the transition to renewable energy.

“While we commend the Albanese government’s commitment to continuing the crucial transition to an Australia powered by renewable energy, not nuclear, we call on them to take stronger action to stop new fossil fuel projects and to deliver the stronger nature laws that polling has shown Western Australians want,” he said.

Bullwinkel Liberal candidate Matt Moran has previously expressed strong opposition to Satterley’s proposed North Stoneville housing estate development – a unanimous stance by candidates contesting the seat – citing increased bushfire risks.

Moran has urged federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider the project’s environmental approval.

On the climate change front, Moran said the Coalition was committed to the Paris Agreement, including net zero emissions by 2050.

“Under Labor’s trajectory, Australia’s chance of hitting the 43 per cent target by 2030 is pure fantasy,” he said.

Labor candidate Trish Cook has toed the party line on Labor’s climate credentials, restating a re-elected Albanese government would deliver get our energy grid to 82 per cent renewables by 2030.

“After a decade of denial and delay under the Liberals and Nationals, Labor set the target of net zero emissions by 2050 into law in the first term of the Albanese government,” she said.

“The Albanese government has approved more renewables than any government in Australian history – and installed enough renewable energy to power over 10 million Australian homes.”

Meanwhile, Nationals candidate Mia Davies said all options should be on the table in the energy transition, including renewable, gas and nuclear.

“A 100 per cent renewable future is akin to putting all your eggs in one basket. We need to sustain the industry and businesses that drive our economy, keep energy prices competitive and ensure we have a long-term sustainable solution,” she said.

“In the interim, the Nationals in government have committed to tangible and practical support for communities to reduce risk and increase preparedness, including refocusing the Disaster Ready Fund to return to its original purpose as a source of funding for projects that will future-proof communities through investment in major capital works for disaster mitigation and risk reduction.”

The quad of candidates will participate in the Kalamunda Environment and Climate Forum on April 30, where they will discuss policies aimed at safeguarding the environment.

The Conservation Council of WA event will be co-hosted by the WA Forest Alliance, and the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Greens candidate Abbey Bishop said the party had done everything it possibly could, at every level of government, to address climate change and its effects, while Labor had still managed to approve more than 30 new fossil fuel projects while in government.

“I absolutely support Australia reaching net zero emissions by 2035,” she said.

“We would then seek to go further and aim to be a net-negative emissions economy beyond 2035.”

Bishop said the residents of Bullwinkel were particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with many underinsured due to increasingly unaffordable premiums.

The party said it would proceed with its Liability for Climate Change Damage (Make the Polluters Pay) Bill, which would give people the right to sue coal, oil and gas corporations for their contribution to the climate-induced damage caused to people’s homes and businesses.

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