Parties with strong climate policies and mostly climate friendly preferencing

It's safe to vote 1 above the line for these - but only in the metropolitan regions. (See red note above.) 

Greens 

The Victorian Greens recognise that ‘human-induced climate change poses one of the greatest threats to our world in human history and requires urgent local, national and global action’. They moved to declare a climate emergency in 2019. They support a renewable electricity target of 100% by 2030, phasing out the use of coal for electricity generation by 2030, an emissions reduction target of 80% by 2030 and net zero by 2035 or sooner. They oppose all new fossil fuel projects and are calling for an immediate end to native forest logging. They are preferencing climate-friendly parties above the others and it is safe to vote 1 above the line for them in all regions.   

Victorian Socialists

The Victorian Socialists are an anti-capitalist party. They recognise that we face a climate emergency and support the declaration of a climate emergency. They have strong climate policies, but climate action is not a central priority. They support emissions reductions of 75% below 2005 levels by 2030, and zero emissions by 2035 with a permanent net-negative emissions economy by 2040. They would prohibit the development of all new fossil fuel projects and exports.  They support an immediate end to native forest logging. Their preferences flow to parties that are towards the left above parties from the right and this usually means that they preference climate-friendly parties above the others. Their preferencing this election is climate friendly in all regions. 

Animal Justice

The Animal Justice Party recognises that we face a climate emergency, but their priorities are focussed on animal justice issues and this is sometimes reflected in their preferencing. Their representative in the Victorian upper house, Andy Meddick, has supported climate action, but has mainly used his position to advance animal welfare policies. However, he was one of only three MPs to vote against the lifting of the moratorium on exploration and extraction of conventional gas. He also negotiated some electric vehicles incentives. Animal Justice were part of the Glen Druery preference swap arrangement, but double-crossed him at the last minute. They have in the past done preference deals with climate-unfriendly parties to advance their central agenda. They preferenced Labor above the Greens in Victoria in the federal election 2022 in return for some commitments on live exports and national parks. Their preferencing this election is climate-friendly in all the metropolitan regions but not in country regions. Don't vote 1 above the line for Animal Justice Party in country regions.

Reason

Fiona Patten's Reason Party supports the call to declare a climate emergency. They support net zero emissions by 2030.  Fiona Patten (perhaps reluctantly) supported the resumption of conventional gas exploration in Victoria stating that it was her understanding that  the Labor government was 'over a barrel' because of threats by the federal Coalition government, that 'has insisted that this moratorium be lifted before they provide any further funding for Victoria to continue in our energy deals [to] reduce carbon emissions'. (See Hansard page 1917-1918). Reason supports an immediate end to native forest logging. Fiona Patten has used her position to advance issues such as safe injecting rooms. Reason have refused to be part of Glen Druery's preferencing arrangements and in the federal election their Victorian preferencing was mainly climate-friendly except for preferencing Labor above the Greens. However, they appear to have done some questionable deals in country regions (see above) and they are supporting Labor above the Greens in the crucial Labor/Greens marginal seat of Northcote. Don't vote 1 above the line for Reason in country regions. 

Parties with some positive climate policies 

Labor

The Australian Labor Party in Victoria acknowledges that strong action on climate is needed, but voted against the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019. However, they have recently taken some strong steps to reduce emissions. They are working towards a 45% - 50% reduction on 2005 emissions levels by 2030, a 75% - 80% reduction by 2035, and net zero by 2045. They are working towards 65% renewable energy by 2030, and 95% by 2035, with an end to coal-fired electricity generation. They will re-establish the State Electricity Commisions to build new publicly owned renewable energy projects. They banned fracking for gas, but lifted the moratorium on off-shore and on-shore conventional gas exploration and production and are considering approving an LNG gas import terminal. They plan to phase out all native forest harvesting by 2030 with some reductions in 2024. Their preferencing is climate friendly in all the regions checked so far, but we do not recommend voting 1 above the line for Labor as their policies are weaker than those of the four parties listed above. 

Sustainable Australia Party – Stop Overdevelopment / Corruption

Sustainable Australia support policies aimied at staying under +1.5C. They have a of target net zero emissions before 2050, with a preferred target of net zero emissions by 2035 - and at least 50% emissions reductions by 2030. They support phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. They have a major focus on stabilising population. Their policies on coal and gas are not particularly strong - a ban on new coal mines and a gas reservation policy.  However, Clifford Hayes from Sustainable Australia was one of only three upper house MPs to oppose the lifting of the Victorian moratorium on conventional gas exploration and extraction. He also instigated an attempt to include climate considerations in the Planning Act. The party did not allocate preferences in the federal election, but they have regularly been part of dubious preference swap arrangements in the past in Victoria, directing preference to the LIberal Democrats and other small parties that attempt to block action on the climate emergency. For this reason we rank them below Labor despite their advocacy for stronger emissions reduction targets than Labor. This election, they are preferencing the LIberal ahead of Labor and the Greens and parties like the LIberal Democrats and the DLP ahead of Reason and the Greens. Definitely do not vote 1 above this line for this party! 

A party with few or no climate policies that may support strong action on climate and has someclimate-friendly preferencing 

Legalise Cannabis Victoria

This party has some vague policies around hemp and recognises the need for some environment protection measures. Their preferencing in Victoria at the 2022 federal election was climate friendly and the same this election. They are preferencing the four parties in our top recommended box - and Labor - ahead of all the rest. If you vote 1 above the line for this party in metropolitan regions your preferences will flow to parties favouring strong acton on the climate emergency.  But why not vote for a party with strong climate policies? In country regions, some of their preferencing is problematic.

Parties with few or no climate policies, that may support some climate action, but are preferencing climate blockers - definitely don't vote 1 above the line for these!

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party

This party's main focus is on justice and integrity issues. They have no climate or energy policies. However, they nearly always vote with the Labor Party on environment and energy, including for Labor's emissions targets and renewable energy initiatives. They also voted with Labor to lift the moratorium on conventional gas projects. In the 2018 election, they  won three upper house seats by working with preference whisperer Glen Druery and cross-preferencing climate action opponents like the Liberal Democrats. This election, they are once again putting the Liberal Democrats and the DLP ahead of all the parties with the strongest climate policies.  

Parties supporting weak action on climate. Definitely don't vote above the line for any of these. 

If you are voting below the line, it is worth preferencing all the better parties, but also the parties in this box. The final seat in each region may come down to a choice between one of these and the even worse climate blockers in the red box further down, so it's worth making your preference for all the 'less worse' options clear.  

Liberal Party of Victoria 

The Liberals have relentlessly opposed climate action in Victoria, but have recently had a change of heart and now support a legislated 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. This is a big improvement on their previous position. They support conventional on-shore gas exploration and production, with new fields being reserved for domestic use. They are preferencing smaller parties blocking action on the climate emergency. 

National Party of Australia (not standing in metropolitan regions) 

The Nationals, like their coalition partners have done an abrupt policy U-turn and now favor zero emissions by 2050 and renewable energy. Also a considerable improvement. However, they still support fossil fuel projects and no end date for logging of native forests. They preference parties blocking climate action. 

Health Party 

This party has a few low-key but positive climate policies. They have been part of the Glen Druery preference swap deal in the past. They are preferencing a range of micro-parties (good and bad) before all the major parties. 

Transport Matters Party 

This party has a few low-key but positive climate policies. They have been part of the Glen Druery preference swap deal in the past and this election they are preferencing the LIberal Democrats and the DLP ahead of parties with strong climate policies.

New Democrats  

The New Democrats is a minor party registered just 51 days before the election. It was formed by former Western Region Labor upper house member, Kaushaliya Vaghela. They have no website and no published policies. How will they vote if elected? Given their founder was a Labor Party member, they may be inclined towards supporting Labor's climate policies. On the other hand, Adem Somyurek, a factional colleague, has left Labor and is standing for Labour - DLP which is a right-wing party with destructive climate policies. Their preferences flow in a variety of directions in the various regions. 

From Wikipedia: On 9 February 2022, Vaghela crossed the floor in support of Adem Somyurek's motion to refer the government to the Victorian Ombudsman in relation to the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, involving the diversion of parliamentary staffing resources to political campaigning and party factional activities prior to the 2014 Victorian state election. In March 2022, Vaghela resigned from the ALP, making serious allegations of bullying against the party. Her criticisms were aired after she had been left off the Labor ticket for the 2022 state election, following an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into the conduct of her husband and staff members.

Parties with dangerous and destructive climate policies or no climate policies.
They ALL use climate-unfriendly preferencing

Angry Victorians Party - no climate policies. Did an expose on Glen Druery's preference whispering techniques. 
Companions and Pets Party - no climate policies
Democratic Labour Party - dangerous and destructive climate policies
Family First - dangerous and destructive policies
Freedom Party of Victoria - no climate policiesLabour DLP - dangerous and destructive climate policies
Liberal Democratic Party - dangerous and destructive climate policies
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation - dangerous and destructive climate policies
Restore Democracy: Sack Dan Andrews - no climate policies. Glen Druery says he created this party. 
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party - dangerous and destructive climate policies
United Australia Party - dangerous and destructive climate policies