WA election changes the conversation on climate change

On a packed, sun-drenched oval at the University of Western Australia’s “O Day”, thousands of boisterous first-year students wander excitedly from stall to stall, signing up for as much fun as possible.

The euphoria is palpable. The pandemic is forgotten for now. The future is theirs for the taking.

Amid the sea of tents, the political parties are out in force, hoping to boost their young membership and win some votes, ahead of the WA state election on March 13.

A bizarre cardboard cut-out of the Queen is propped precariously against the Young Liberals’ stall while just around the corner, at Young Labor’s tent, a similar life-size model of Labor Premier, Mark McGowan, is attracting a lot more attention.

Selfies with “Markie”, who has been…