Gita Sonnenberg: Green tinge to Extinction Rebellion revealed, but Sue Chapman insists she’s no rebel

A Climate-200-funded candidate who is challenging a Liberal stronghold in WA’s South West has declared she is against illegal protest activity, after a photo emerged of a key supporter wearing an Extinction Rebellion badge. Gita Sonnenberg was the convener of Voices for Forrest that launched Sue Chapman’s bid for politics and has donated $4700 to her campaign for the seat. Ms Sonnenberg’s LinkedIn profile claims she is Dr Chapman’s “campaign coordinator”. Dr Chapman told The West Australian she had never seen the photo, pictured, of Ms Sonnenberg wearing an Extinction Rebellion badge and described her as one of more than 250 volunteers. Extinction Rebellion is a global protest movement founded in the UK, with the stated aim of using “civil disobedience” to demand governments act on climate change. “I haven’t asked Ms Sonnenberg or any other volunteers about their support for organisations or causes,” Dr Chapman said. “Instead, I ask all volunteers to adhere to a set of values and principles that guide my campaign. “I support the right of all Australians to peaceful protest. I don’t support any illegal activity, that includes illegal activity undertaken as part of a protest.” Ms Sonnenberg’s husband, Norman Pater, has donated $130,000 to Dr Chapman’s Forrest campaign, and previously donated $50,000 to the WA Greens’ recent State election campaign. The couple are the founders of Farmers For Climate Action and have also previously donated $400,000 to the Australian Greens, according to Australian Electoral Commission records. But Dr Chapman rejected claims she is a “recycled Green candidate” as a Liberal scare campaign. “I’ve been called a Labor stooge, a secret Green, part of a Teal party and even a Liberal party plant. I am none of these things,” she said. “I am on the record disagreeing with the Greens’ push for dental into Medicare because the dental workforce doesn’t exist to support this. “I am yet to hear the Greens party offer any specific policies to regional and rural communities.” On energy, Dr Chapman said “credible” solutions are needed and demanded rigorous and comprehensive assessment of Woodside’s North-West Shelf gas expansion. But she ruled out using that project as a bargaining chip with a potential minority Labor government. “I will not place conditions on my support of government legislation,” Dr Chapman said. “I will judge every bill on its merit.”