Federal election 2025 - candidate guide
Elections present an important opportunity for environmental advocacy. While other equally important issues may be front of mind during the 2025 federal election, protecting and restoring waterways remains as important as ever due to the wide-ranging societal benefits a healthy environment can provide. Whether it’s through supporting our physical and mental health, creating a respite from extreme temperatures, or providing free recreational opportunities for all, it’s crucial we make sure waterways and nature more broadly stay firmly on the agenda for candidates along Merri Creek.
The federal government is responsible for administering our existing, outdated and ineffective national framework for protecting nature, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and has the power to deliver urgently-needed reforms to the act that could help halt the ongoing decline of our natural assets. Whilst the EPBC act in its current form is widely accepted to be inadequate, in theory it should provide protection for endangered Merri species such as the Growling Grass Frog and Golden Sun Moth. As well as having the ability to push for broader environmental change, federal representatives can also be an important source of funding for the continued restoration and enhancement of the Merri Creek, and can ensure that the inherent value of nature and its contribution to areas such as health, culture and the economy is adequately considered in other areas of federal policy.
In partnership with the Friends of Edwardes Lake, we surveyed candidates running for office in all electoral divisions along the creek. For candidates who responded, responses have been scored as either aligned or not aligned with our vision for healthy waterways. A scorecard for each electorate and the candidate's responses in full are available in the document linked below.
While we are disappointed that many candidates did not complete the survey at all, we welcome the many positive commitments those who did have made to restoring our local environment and strengthening federal protections for nature. Before you vote, check the guide to hear what your candidates had to say, and be sure to investigate the environmental policies of those who didn’t respond too. By making an informed decision with your vote, you'll be helping to maintain and increase support for nature at the federal level, when it is more needed than ever.
The questions we sent to candidates:
- What action will you take at a federal level to ensure increased protection and restoration of the environment and waterways in your electorate?
- What is your favourite EPBC listed species in your electorate, and how will you act to ensure it doesn’t become extinct locally?
- Will you support the establishment of a Commonwealth Environmental Protection Agency, promised by the current government in this term of parliament but since shelved?
- How do you think nature repair can contribute to tackling the pressing issues of cost of living and mental and physical wellbeing?
- The current federal government provided $524,000 to the Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Edwardes Lake for restoration work.
Will you support further and increased funding for the Merri Creek, its tributaries and Edwardes Lake in the years to come? - Will you advocate for federal government funding to assist Victoria to acquire the land needed to deliver the wallan wallan (upper Merri) Regional Park?
The Park is an initiative vital to the environmental health of the Merri Creek, an invaluable community asset promoting health, recreation and a connection to nature, all while reducing the risk of downstream flooding in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
