THE independent candidate for Mornington Kate Lardner has rejected claims that she can’t be independent, following revelations she has received financial backing from climate activist Simon Holmes a Court.
Earlier this month the Frankston Hospital doctor told The News that despite having had “discussions” with ‘Teal’ supporter Holmes a Court, she would not be influenced.
The businessman’s social media accounts show he is keeping Lardner close, with his Twitter page spruiking for donations for her campaign and asking followers to “please help her win”.
But Lardner, who launched her campaign in Mornington on Saturday (17 September) said Climate 200 “does not choose candidates or direct their policies”.
“As you know I am running a grassroots community campaign. To date, I’ve received cash donations totalling $64,861 from 36 generous supporters,” she said.
“In addition, I have recently received a package of in-kind support from Climate 200 valued at $4185. As with the support Climate 200 provided to Dr Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel during the federal election, it comes with absolutely no strings attached.”
Lardner has previously conceded that prior to deciding to stand for the seat of Mornington a few weeks ago, she had not been thinking about it until “approached”.
“I was approached by someone who thought I would be {a good candidate],” she said.
The mother-of-two, who was once a member of the Greens and who helped found the Voices of the Mornington Peninsula, said “climate integrity” were issues both she and the Climate 200 movement – convened by Holmes a Court to support candidates committed to climate action – cared about.
A poll commissioned by Climate 200 in August has Lardner in a winnable position, and pundit predictions are that there could be a 10 per cent swing away from the Liberals.
Lardner said it was known that she had been in discissions with Climate 200, but reiterated that her independence had not been compromised.
“Climate 200 is a community crowdfunding initiative aiming to level the playing field for independent community candidates committed to a science-based response to the climate crisis, restoring integrity to politics, and advancing gender equity,” she said.
“I’m proud to be a candidate who shares those values.”
She said she was grateful to all those who had dug deep to support her campaign, “including Climate 200 and its more than 11,000 donors”.
While there is growing community interest in independents, as evidenced in the federal election, some there have been questions about the independence of Teal candidates supported by Climate 200.
Former federal MP and the Liberals Mornington candidate Chris Crewther said he believes voting for a Teal is a vote for Labor.
In a media statement, Crewther said the Teal party “just means more Daniel Andrews and more of the same”.
The seat of Mornington includes the wealthy suburbs of Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha and Tuerong, as well as parts of Baxter and Moorooduc, and has long been considered a safe seat for the Liberal Party.
However, alleged infighting and the controversial deselection of popular MP David Morris of the Liberal Party, who has held the seat since 2006, has rocked voter confidence in the party.
Lardner recently said the Liberals were “not in a good place”, and voters were looking for change.
