Kew, Melbourne
29 January 2019
Liberal Party of Australia (Vic Div)
The Hon Michael O’Brien and The Hon Robert Clark
Resignation Kew Central No 901210
It is with complete disappointment that I tender my resignation to the Liberal Party of Australia.
The Liberals position on the environment and climate change is not acceptable. I had thought time and time again that, with prompting, the Party would change its immoral position but it is clear that the Party has no interest in acting in the best interest of Australian citizens.
Seeing the now Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, wave around a lump of coal in Parliament made me angry. The fact that he repeated the action at a Liberal Party function was highly offensive. Given the lack of response to this stunt, it confirmed to me that the executive of the Party supports such stunts. Environmentally it’s like waving asbestos.
The Party’s failure to deal with significant issues facing Australia threatens to sell out the future of all Australians. Without environmental assets, public assets and public confidence in our politics, we’re unable to deal with a warming climate, a growing and ageing population and an unequal economy.
It has been made clear to me that the 'broad church' in Kooyong won’t extend to other Liberals with environmental concerns - and the time now comes to offer an alternative way for the people of Kooyong to have a voice and to be represented in Canberra.
As to fundamental liberal core values, the recent speech by Josh said it all: your view of intergenerational equity is limited to financial assets; you ignore the environmental assets that this generation is leaving, damaged and destroyed, to others. This shows you are failing to understand the Party's original core values.
If and when the Liberal Party reforms itself I may seek to re-join, but at this stage it is with deep regret that I find the Party’s failings are so profound that I resign, effectively immediately.
Yours sincerely
Oliver Yates
Authorised by Oliver Yates, Kew, Melbourne
