WOONONA resident Tim Lavers has issued a challenge to other candidates contesting Cunningham in the May Federal election.  

Mr Lavers has been selected as the candidate for the Animal Justice Party (AJP).

The software engineer, with a background in science and maths, has challenged other candidates to make their positions clear on the hotly debated issue of offshore wind farms in the Illawarra.

The Albanese Labor Government, which is backing a 1,022-square kilometre off-shore wind zone off the coast of the Illawarra, is pausing the consideration of a feasibility licence until after the federal election.

The Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen said the pause is due to the sovereign risk created by the Coalitions “reckless and unprincipled opposition to investment and jobs in the renewables sector”.

The Coalition has committed to scrapping the project if elected to government.

“In order to protect our oceans and coasts from catastrophic climate change, we need to decarbonise our energy systems,” Mr Lavers said.

“Take your pick: nuclear, offshore wind, or huge solar farms in the desert connected to coastal cities by thousands of kilometres of power lines. For me, offshore wind farms are the least-worst option.

“All candidates need to be completely clear on where they stand on this issue. And people who claim that floating wind turbines will harm whales need to explain why this hasn’t happened anywhere else and how structures with no moving parts underwater will harm marine life.”

Mr Lavers has worked in start-ups, big corporations, government, and now is a medical researcher for a non-profit organisation.

 “This has taught me to look very clearly at the facts of a situation and make decisions based on the input from experts. I want to apply these skills in Canberra,” he said.

“Australia is facing enormous challenges right now, and none of the other parties are really talking about the fundamental things driving these problems.

“For example, most economists agree that our tax system is rigged against workers and needs reform, but neither Labor nor the Coalition will change it. The Greens won’t discuss the environmental impact of animal agriculture, even though there is no way we can keep global warming below two degrees without big reductions in sheep and cattle numbers.”

The AJP’s election platform is aimed at reducing cost-of-living pressures through their Veticare policy, which will subsidise veterinary care. They also plan a major overhaul of the tax system so that work is taxed less, and wealth is taxed more. There are major focuses too on climate rescue and improving our food system to reduce its environmental impact and harm to animals and people.

“I want my kids to be able to buy a house,” Mr Lavers said.

“The current tax system makes it impossible for most young people to buy a home. In fact, tax breaks like negative gearing mean that young people subsidise property investors to price them out of the market. It’s grossly unfair and incredibly damaging to society. Labor have done nothing to change the fundamental problems around housing. The AJP has a plan to reduce house prices to affordable levels in a way that doesn’t crash the market.”

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