Why should I run as a candidate for the federal election?
Vote Planet (Save the Planet, One Planet and People for the Bush) is seeking candidates to run at this federal election under our Federally registered political party FUSION: Science, Pirates, Secular, Climate Emergency on our Climate Emergency.
Our ultimate goal is to
Our ultimate goal is to get elected to parliament and shift the conversation to climate emergency action along the way.
Influencing other parties and candidates
In Australia candidates speak with each other so they can order the preferences on their how-to-vote card (or senate preferences). This is the opportunity for climate emergency candidate to share ‘shock and awe speaking points’ with potential policy makers.
Vote Planet candidates tell the truth about the climate emergency, which sways both the public and other candidates. For example the conversations past Vote Planet candidates had with the likely councillors during the 2016 Darebin election campaign were key to getting Darebin to become the first council to pass a climate emergency motion thus kicking off the global council climate emergency movement.
And finally, everyone in seats where Vote Planet candidates run will see the words 'Climate Emergency' on their ballot.
Educating the Community
Leafleting, handing out how to vote cards, speaking at public forums, poster and stickers, and speaking directly to voters is how we share the climate emergency message and supporting policies with the public.
The education focuses people on both the threat of global warming, the need solutions and the emergency mobilisation we need if we are to save ourselves.
You can find out about our four core policy areas here or our more detailed policy here.
Will will also be supporting the shared agenda developed by the FUSION party. You can read the shared FUSION policy summaries here and see if you comfortable with the direction of the broader party.
So you want to run!
Fill out the Vote Planet candidate nomination form for the the 22 Federal election.
OTHER FAQs
What if I’m not the best person to run?
There is no current competition for who will be the candidate in each seat. If you meet all of the criteria below, you are most likely the best person to run:
What’s the difference between Vote Planet and other ‘climate’ parties?
There are crucial criteria:
2. Emergency Mobilisation focus
Restoring a safe climate, cannot be achieved via business as usual operations. We need the federal climate emergency declaration and then mobilise and prioritisation of resources to reduce and drawdown emissions and build societal resilience to current and coming impacts. This task is so huge it cannot be achieved via business as usual operations - or even tweaked business as usual. We need the federal climate emergency declaration and then a restructuring of federal and state governments to mobilise.
3. Climate emergency targets
Targets set the pace for how fast we need to work. Of course, this work should have started decades ago. Vote Planet's targets are:
While these targets would be unrealistic under a business as usual scenarios, the are not for an emergency scenario. Beyond Zero Emissions has modelled and costed many sector plans. The question of how we would pay for this is immaterial. When governments undertake mobilisation, they print money. If our governments fail to mobilisation the costs will be pretty much everything.
Does what Australia does matter?
Why should Australia adopt such targets when we account for less than 2% of emissions (coal exports notwithstanding)? Because:
No other parties both prioritise climate emergency in their policy and communications and set real targets for a safe climate future. When parties and organisation branding themselves as ‘climate emergency’ promote suicidal targets, it sends the wrong message. It tells the public that zero by 2040 or 2050 is will help avert runaway climate change, when it will not. Suicidal targets assure the public that tweaked business as usual is all that need be expected from government.
Wouldn’t I be taking votes from the lesser evil/my next favourite party/helping the worst party to win?
Most Australians are confused by how our voting system works and think voting for a minor party or independent is a waste. This is simply not the case.
As voters we rank the parties in order of our preferred choice on our ballot papers from "1" (most preferred) to least preferred. If no candidate gets the required number of votes to win, which in a single member electorate is 50% of the vote plus 1 vote, candidates with the least votes get knocked out and their votes are distributed at full value to remaining candidates.
See this 1 minute video for a more detailed and graphical explanation.
Excess vote redistribution is explained in the following 7 minute video or Juice Media’s version here.
What campaigning would be required as a candidate?
The sky is the limit but at a bare minimum you would be required to:
How much would it cost?
The cost of Federal candidate registration $2,000 -
The cost of printing leaflets/how to vote cards $200-500+
Optional
Coreflutes usually run around $20 each depending on the size of the order
Social media from $250+
Other miscellaneous costs
What support is provided?
Fusion and Vote Planet will provide templates for leaflets, how-to-vote cards, coreflutes, etc and provide on call support.
We provide a comprehensive candidate information pack and remote training.
During the election a national campaign manager will be available to answer your questions and provide support.
We strongly recommend that any candidate has their own campaign manager to help take much of the stress out of running, ask your friends and family to help.
When would I have to start campaigning?
The sooner the better. Letterboxing is good anytime as material from political organisations is exempt from the ‘no junk mail’ sticker and can be done during COVID.
What rights do I have - would I have to quit my job?
Public servants other than those employed in the defence forces, are ruled out from running in federal elections but can seek short term resignation from their position.
What about other non-climate policies and none core policies?
The climate emergency and the other three core goals of vote planet are the most important issues we have chosen to focus on because without " without restoring a safe climate we have nothing", however when in public or a public forum you may be asked questions on other issues.
On these issue and if elected you are effectively an independent on issues that are not covered by our four core goals and can vote / comment accordingly, noting that your votes/comments mush still pass our good character test i.e. not being racist, sexist etc.
How do I apply to become a candidate for the federal election?
Fill out the Vote Planet candidate nomination form for the the 22 Federal election.
More information?
Contact Adrian Whitehead. Vote Planet's National Campaign Manager on 0403 735 118 = please text before you ring as I get heaps of spam phone calls.
Vote Planet (Save the Planet, One Planet and People for the Bush) is seeking candidates to run at this federal election under our Federally registered political party FUSION: Science, Pirates, Secular, Climate Emergency on our Climate Emergency.
Our ultimate goal is to
Our ultimate goal is to get elected to parliament and shift the conversation to climate emergency action along the way.
Influencing other parties and candidates
In Australia candidates speak with each other so they can order the preferences on their how-to-vote card (or senate preferences). This is the opportunity for climate emergency candidate to share ‘shock and awe speaking points’ with potential policy makers.
Vote Planet candidates tell the truth about the climate emergency, which sways both the public and other candidates. For example the conversations past Vote Planet candidates had with the likely councillors during the 2016 Darebin election campaign were key to getting Darebin to become the first council to pass a climate emergency motion thus kicking off the global council climate emergency movement.
And finally, everyone in seats where Vote Planet candidates run will see the words 'Climate Emergency' on their ballot.
Educating the Community
Leafleting, handing out how to vote cards, speaking at public forums, poster and stickers, and speaking directly to voters is how we share the climate emergency message and supporting policies with the public.
The education focuses people on both the threat of global warming, the need solutions and the emergency mobilisation we need if we are to save ourselves.
You can find out about our four core policy areas here or our more detailed policy here.
Will will also be supporting the shared agenda developed by the FUSION party. You can read the shared FUSION policy summaries here and see if you comfortable with the direction of the broader party.
So you want to run!
Fill out the Vote Planet candidate nomination form for the the 22 Federal election.
OTHER FAQs
What if I’m not the best person to run?
There is no current competition for who will be the candidate in each seat. If you meet all of the criteria below, you are most likely the best person to run:
- You understand that Earth and its biosphere is already too hot and require emergency action to reverse global warming
- You care about what happens to other people and the environment
- You are of good character*
- You can keep on topic - the climate emergency
- You want to make an impact
- You can you cover the cost of or raise the funds to run
- You are willing to put yourself out there in the public space.
What’s the difference between Vote Planet and other ‘climate’ parties?
There are crucial criteria:
- Prioritisation of climate emergency policies
2. Emergency Mobilisation focus
Restoring a safe climate, cannot be achieved via business as usual operations. We need the federal climate emergency declaration and then mobilise and prioritisation of resources to reduce and drawdown emissions and build societal resilience to current and coming impacts. This task is so huge it cannot be achieved via business as usual operations - or even tweaked business as usual. We need the federal climate emergency declaration and then a restructuring of federal and state governments to mobilise.
3. Climate emergency targets
Targets set the pace for how fast we need to work. Of course, this work should have started decades ago. Vote Planet's targets are:
- Less than 10 years to zero or net negative across all sectors, including land use
- Massive scale drawdown of greenhouse gas emissions to restore safe levels of greenhouse gas concentrations.
While these targets would be unrealistic under a business as usual scenarios, the are not for an emergency scenario. Beyond Zero Emissions has modelled and costed many sector plans. The question of how we would pay for this is immaterial. When governments undertake mobilisation, they print money. If our governments fail to mobilisation the costs will be pretty much everything.
Does what Australia does matter?
Why should Australia adopt such targets when we account for less than 2% of emissions (coal exports notwithstanding)? Because:
- Australia has vetoed stronger international action for two decades (currently standing with just Russia and Saudi Arabia to do so). Australia now needs to lead and make up for its past actions.
- 50% of global emissions come from countries with 2% or less of global emissions. Are all of these countries also exempt from acting?
- Australia has the second highest per capita emissions globally.
No other parties both prioritise climate emergency in their policy and communications and set real targets for a safe climate future. When parties and organisation branding themselves as ‘climate emergency’ promote suicidal targets, it sends the wrong message. It tells the public that zero by 2040 or 2050 is will help avert runaway climate change, when it will not. Suicidal targets assure the public that tweaked business as usual is all that need be expected from government.
Wouldn’t I be taking votes from the lesser evil/my next favourite party/helping the worst party to win?
Most Australians are confused by how our voting system works and think voting for a minor party or independent is a waste. This is simply not the case.
As voters we rank the parties in order of our preferred choice on our ballot papers from "1" (most preferred) to least preferred. If no candidate gets the required number of votes to win, which in a single member electorate is 50% of the vote plus 1 vote, candidates with the least votes get knocked out and their votes are distributed at full value to remaining candidates.
See this 1 minute video for a more detailed and graphical explanation.
Excess vote redistribution is explained in the following 7 minute video or Juice Media’s version here.
What campaigning would be required as a candidate?
The sky is the limit but at a bare minimum you would be required to:
- Organise to cover the cost of the registration ($2,000) and have your name on the ballot.
- Organise a campaign team (1 or more helpers)
- Get out the message on social media
- Print out leaflets/how-to-vote cards (the soft copy is provided by StP)
- Distribute leaflets in letterboxes and/or at polling booths
- Speak at candidate forums
- Make a media release available (the template is provided by StP)
- Put up coreflutes in target neighbourhoods.
- door-knocking
- organising talks
- meeting and greeting in public places (train stations, outside supermarkets etc)
- Media interviews and other ways to get the climate emergency message out.
How much would it cost?
The cost of Federal candidate registration $2,000 -
The cost of printing leaflets/how to vote cards $200-500+
Optional
Coreflutes usually run around $20 each depending on the size of the order
Social media from $250+
Other miscellaneous costs
What support is provided?
Fusion and Vote Planet will provide templates for leaflets, how-to-vote cards, coreflutes, etc and provide on call support.
We provide a comprehensive candidate information pack and remote training.
During the election a national campaign manager will be available to answer your questions and provide support.
We strongly recommend that any candidate has their own campaign manager to help take much of the stress out of running, ask your friends and family to help.
When would I have to start campaigning?
The sooner the better. Letterboxing is good anytime as material from political organisations is exempt from the ‘no junk mail’ sticker and can be done during COVID.
What rights do I have - would I have to quit my job?
Public servants other than those employed in the defence forces, are ruled out from running in federal elections but can seek short term resignation from their position.
What about other non-climate policies and none core policies?
The climate emergency and the other three core goals of vote planet are the most important issues we have chosen to focus on because without " without restoring a safe climate we have nothing", however when in public or a public forum you may be asked questions on other issues.
On these issue and if elected you are effectively an independent on issues that are not covered by our four core goals and can vote / comment accordingly, noting that your votes/comments mush still pass our good character test i.e. not being racist, sexist etc.
How do I apply to become a candidate for the federal election?
Fill out the Vote Planet candidate nomination form for the the 22 Federal election.
More information?
Contact Adrian Whitehead. Vote Planet's National Campaign Manager on 0403 735 118 = please text before you ring as I get heaps of spam phone calls.
*Good character: this includes:
- not being sexist or racist
- conducting yourself in a reputable manner
- if an employer, treating employees fairly
- if an employee, treating employers fairly
- not engaging in corrupt or unethical activities
- able to engage with fellow party members, and party administration in a positive and constructive manner.
