Climate 200 is once again on a collision course with the Coalition, backing community independent campaigns in at least 22 seats but only one currently held by Labor.
The climate-focused fundraising body has revealed that Bean, held by David Smith, is the only Labor-held electorate on its initial list of targets, which is expected to grow to about 30 by the time of the 2025 election.
Independent campaigns to receive Climate 200 funding will look to conquer the suburbs and regions, particularly in Victoria and south-east Queensland, and build on earlier campaigns in regional New South Wales.
On the hitlist in Victoria are:
The outer Melbourne seat of Casey, to be contested by the former Sustainability Victoria head Claire Ferres Miles
The seat of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, to be contested by Victoria’s reigning father of the year, Ben Smith
Monash, east of Melbourne, to be contested by Deb Leonard
Wannon, in the west of the state, to be contested by Alex Dyson
These electorates are held by next-generation Liberals Aaron Violi and Zoe McKenzie, the Liberal veteran turned independent Russell Broadbent and the shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan.
Bean, in Canberra’s south, will be contested by Jessie Price, a midwife. Despite only having one Labor-held electorate on the target list, Climate 200 insists it is not partisan, choosing to support campaigns based on criteria including the level of local momentum for a community independent.
In Queensland, Climate 200 will fund campaigns in the Sunshine Coast seats of Fairfax, to be contested by small business owner Francine Wiig, and Fisher, by the former councillor Keryn Jones; and the Gold Coast’s McPherson, to be contested by marathon runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett.
In NSW, Climate 200 will support campaigns in Calare, held by the National turned independent Andrew Gee, and Cowper, held by National Pat Conaghan.
These electorates will be contested by the same candidates as in the 2022 election: Kate Hook, who won 40.3% of the two-party preferred vote, and Caz Heise, who won 47.7%.
Also returning in the Sydney north shore seat of Bradfield is the independent candidate Nicolette Boele, who will seek to win retiring manager of opposition business Paul Fletcher’s seat.
In South Australia, the Liberal moderate James Stevens’ seat of Sturt is the only electorate on the target list so far, to be contested by retired general practitioner Dr Verity Cooper.
In Western Australia, Liberal MP Nola Marino’s seat of Forrest is the only target electorate so far. It will be contested by medical specialist Dr Sue Chapman.
Rounding out the list are six incumbent MPs Climate 200 supported at the last election: Zali Steggall, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel, Monique Ryan, Sophie Scamps and Allegra Spender.
Climate 200 will also support independents Helen Haines, Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie, whose votes will also likely be critical in the event of a hung parliament.
