Votes are still being counted, but one thing is indisputable: climate action is the winner of this election. Millions of Australians put climate first at the ballot box, and the politicians who dragged their heels on the most important challenge of our time are paying a price for that.
It’s clear the Australian Parliament is now set for an unprecedented shake up, and all eyes are on what climate action will be achieved by the incoming government. This Climate Council analysis of key seats in the 2022 Federal Election makes a compelling case for the strong connection between climate concerned Australians and their voting behaviour.
Key findings
- Climate change is a defining issue of this election in the city, the suburbs and the regions. Candidates championing strong climate action were rewarded by voters across the country.
- Voters in most electorates hit by climate-fuelled disasters, like the Black Summer Bushfires and the 2022 floods, swung away from the Coalition and towards those championing stronger climate action.
- The Senate is likely to have a climate action-friendly majority with candidates who ran on strong climate platforms performing well.
- The new Australian Parliament has a strong mandate for game-changing climate action, and pressure will continue to be applied (both domestically and abroad) on the federal government to accelerate its efforts this decade.
Climate action a vote winner in the regions, the suburbs and the cities
Independents who stood for strong climate action enjoyed big swings across capital cities, with up to five on track to win lower house seats that have long been strongholds of the Liberal Party. These include: Sydney (Wentworth, Mackellar, North Sydney, Warringah, Bradfield), Melbourne (Kooyong, Goldstein), Perth (Curtin) and Adelaide (Grey). Also notable was the performance of an independent in the ACT Senate.
There has also been substantial swings toward the Greens, particularly in south-east Queensland and Northern NSW where extreme flooding has pummelled communities this year.
Download the Climate Council’s analysis of key seats in the 2022 Federal Election here.
“There is no more time to waste, the 2020s are our make or break decade for climate action. Make no mistake: right now we’re on a crash course to climate catastrophe. That requires a sharp correction. Australians know it and they deserve a federal government that recognises the scale of the challenge before us, as well as the pace of action that’s required. We can not afford to waste a single day more.
Professor Tim Flannery, Chief Climate Councillor