Coalition Scores 1/100 for Environmental and Climate Policies Ahead of Federal Election

The Coalition has received an abysmal  score of 1 out of 100 for its environmental and climate policies, according to one of Australia’s largest conservation organisations – marking the lowest rating the Liberal and National parties have received in over 20 years of pre-election evaluations. 

Labor narrowly passed with a score of 54%, while the Greens achieved a high distinction with a score of 98%. The independently assessed scorecard evaluated major parties and 18 independent candidates based on their commitment to four key goals: protecting biodiversity, advancing renewable energy, opposing nuclear energy, and taking decisive action against major contributors to climate change.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) asked parties and candidates whether they supported each of the 16 objectives outlined in its national agenda. The assessment involved analysing their survey responses, public policies, voting records and statements which were then compared against the 54 success criteria established in the ACF’s agenda. 

In cases where candidates or parties did not respond to the survey, ACF relied solely on their public statements and policies for evaluation. 

ACF raises concerns over Coalition’s environmental record

ACF CEO Kelly O’Shanassy expressed grave alarm over the Coalition’s score, emphasising that this reflected the party’s failure to take meaningful action on environmental and climate issues. 

“The Coalition’s woeful score reflects its damaging, regressive policies: climate wrecking gas, and expensive and risky nuclear energy over clean, affordable renewables, coupled with cuts to environment protection at the behest of the fossil fuel industry,
O’Shanassy said in a statement. 

“Australia would be a worse place to live under the Coalition’s policies,” O’Shanassy declared. 

The Coalition’s sole point was given for acknowledging concerns about AUKUS legislation that “could leave the door open to Australia accepting high level nuclear waste from overseas”.

In previous years, the Coalition has consistently scored far lower than both Labor and the Greens. 

In 2019, the Coalition received a score of 4 out of 100, compared to Labor’s 56 out of 100 and the Greens’ 99 out of 100. Similarly, in 2016, the Coalition scored 14 out of 100, while Labor earned 62 out of 100 and the Greens 95 out of 100.

O’Shanassy reflected on how Australian families have been impacted by climate-driven bushfires and flooding which have made homes uninsurable, while the destruction of wildlife habitat has pushed native species to the brink. 

Both Major Parties Fail to Address Climate and Nature Crises in Election Campaign

Despite these crises, the climate and nature crises have “hardly rated a mention with the two major parties at this election,” O’Shanassy said. 

“Labor scored points for its work on the clean energy and clean manufacturing transition and its strong stance against costly, thirsty, risky nuclear power, but lost points for its commitment to expanding the climate-wrecking coal and gas industries.

O’Shanassy pointed out that while Labor has renewed its promise to establishing a federal environment protection agency, something promised in the previous election but failed to deliver,  its stance on overhauling the national nature protection laws remains unclear.

“The Greens’ policy platform sets out measures to stop Australia pouring fuel on the climate fire, massively increase funding for nature and overhaul national nature laws so they genuinely protect the creatures and places Australians love,” O’Shanassy said. 

ACF also scored leading ‘teal’ independents highly for their strong climate and nature policies.  

Independent Candidate for the House of Representatives in Bradfield Nicolette Boele ranked highly on ACF’s scorecard, with an average of 91% across the four key areas. Similarly, other independent MPs also performed strongly: Zoe Daniel (Goldstein) with 85%, Kate Dezernaulds (Gilmore) with 86%, Caz Heise (Cowper) with 97%, Monique Ryan (Kooyong) with 92% and Zali Steggall (Warringah) with 93%. 

ACF offers a brief quiz that allows individuals to discover which political party’s commitments to nature and climate align with their own values. 

“We hope Australians will look their family members in the eye before heading to the polls and use their vote to elect a parliament that will protect our climate, wildlife and kids,” ACF said in a statement. 

The Australian Federal Election will be held on Saturday 3 May 2025, with early voting starting on 22 April.