Bob Brown Foundation congratulated Liberal Candidate for Blaxland, Courtney Nguyen, who has expressed her support for an end to native forest logging, the nomination of Takayna for World Heritage listing, a ban on krill fishing and protection of Antarctic waters.

“Australian voters, including the majority of Liberal Party voters, support an end to native forest logging. Courtney Nguyen has listened to them and given voice to their wishes. She should be commended, not criticised by those in the Liberal Party who are beholden to corporate interests out of step with the electorate,” said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigns Manager.

This follows in the wake of Labor Candidate for Bass, Jess Teesdale, being silenced by her party after expressing her support for ending native forest logging.

“Peter Dutton should be listening to Courtney Nguyen. She has listened to constituents in a way that Peter Dutton has not.”

“Candidates who are prepared to stand with their communities against the destruction of the natural world should be celebrated, not bullied and silenced. Well done Courtney!”

Today, Bob Brown Foundation launched its nationwide candidate scorecard on its website, Vote Earth. A questionnaire was sent to all candidates asking if they would vote to end native forest logging nationwide, nominate 495,000 hectares of Takayna for World Heritage listing, support removal of industrial fish farms from Tasmania’s waters and support a ban on krill fishing and protect Antarctica’s waters.

“Our foundation is mobilising volunteers on pre-poll booths across the country to hand out our scorecards. We have rallied and marched with 30,000 people nationwide, calling for an end to native forest logging. We broke the story on the toxic salmon industry’s mass mortality and our campaign for Takayna’s protection has held off new mines, a mine waste-dump and logging. All of these environmental issues need the ALP, Coalition and Greens to deliver legislative change in the parliament to secure environmental protection. This election, we will inform and activate voters to press politicians on this critical need,” said Jenny Weber.