Josh Frydenberg fails to front for candidates debate in his electorate of Kooyong

A heated contest in the Melbourne electorate of Kooyong saw Treasurer Josh Frydenberg refusing to show up for a debate with other candidates.

Mr Frydenberg turned down an invitation from climate advocacy group, Lighter Footprints, to join the debate on Wednesday evening.

He accused the event of being essentially a “campaign rally” for rival Independent candidate Monique Ryan, who is running largely on a platform of climate action.

Labor candidate Dr Peter Lynch and candidate for the Greens Piers Mitchem were present for the debate.

Camera Icon Mr Frydenberg blamed is absence on the climate-focused forum being too hostile. NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly Credit: News Corp Australia

“It would be akin to me going and debating them in front of their own campaign rally which I’m not about to give them that free kick to do,” Mr Frydenberg told radio station SEN this week.

Ms Ryan had earlier turned down an invitation to debate Mr Frydenberg in a televised one-on-one on Channel 9, although has since agreed to a similar style debate on Sky for next week due to it being held within the electorate.

“Will you accept this invitation Mr Frydenberg and face questions from the Kooyong community?” she put to the Treasurer.

Mr Frydenberg earlier told Sky he was willing to accept both debate offers.

Camera Icon Dr Monique Ryan is one of many Independents campaigning largely on a climate change platform. NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia

As was the plan for any candidate that couldn’t attend the debate, in lieu of Mr Frydenberg being present an outline of the Liberal party’s climate policies was delivered based on the Victorian Climate Action Network (VCAN) scorecard.

They rated the Coalition “poor” on all five rated measures including emissions reductions targets, recognition of a climate emergency and electric vehicle incentives.

“The Liberals describe their plan for Net Zero as technology driven,” member of the Kooyong Climate Change Alliance and VCAN representative Alex Currell said.

“Unfortunately the definitions are so loose that carbon capture and storage and production of hydrogen from fossil fuels are included as priorities.”

Ms Ryan said she would support a bill for climate action by fellow Independent, Zali Steggall which is ready to be presented to Parliament immediately after the election.

Camera Icon Dr Ryan said she would back fellow Independent Zali Steggalls climate action bill. NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia

“The move to reduce our emissions is a complex one that requires a lot of infrastructure and other development,” she said.

“I’m a pragmatist and there’s only seven budgets between now and 2030. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then. And so something that can be started immediately and the hopefully built on is where I’ve gone.”

Earlier in the day Ms Ryan released a plan to turbo charge Australia’s transition to electric vehicles.

It included legislating standards to encourage manufacturers to deliver more EV models into Australia, $5000 rebates for 300,000 motorists purchase zero emissions vehicles and developing an EV battery manufacturing industry in Australia.

Presenting plans for the most ambitious emissions reduction targets of the night, Greens candidate Mr Mitchem said any government faced with climate change should be “scrambling to do all that it could”.

“Yet our government, including the man who should be in that empty chair is doing exactly the opposite, proudly declaring its commitment to opening more coal mines and gas wells,” Mr Mitchem said.

Labor candidate Dr Lynch conceded that other parties could spruik more ambitious targets than his party but said the debate should also take into account the chances of being elected and therefore of the targets being implemented.

“The strength of the Labor targets I believe are their implementability,” he said.