Climate 200 taps former independent candidate Kate Hook for co-convener as campaign group eyes regional push

Climate 200, the political campaign group founded by businessman Simon Holmes à Court, will shake up its leadership, adding a new co-convener for the first time, in a bid to build capacity and better represent regional communities.

Kate Hook will work alongside Holmes à Court, leading the organisation helping fuel Australia’s community independents movement. Climate 200 supported 35 candidates at the May federal election and is already planning for the next poll, due in 2028.

Born and raised near Wagga Wagga, Hook is a small business owner and a two-time independent candidate for the NSW seat of Calare, held by independent and former Nationals MP Andrew Gee.

Hook told Guardian Australia she would bring first-hand experience as a regional candidate to the role and help grow Climate 200’s reach.

“People used to say to me, ‘I feel like politics is being held at arm’s length from me and there’s no way in.’ I felt like that too,” she said.

“I’ve been a candidate, I’ve been part of that community movement to support the idea of having an independent candidate run. In terms of policy areas, I’ve also worked in renewable energy, which is really big in the regions as well.”

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Established in 2019 after Holmes à Court was kicked out of a political fundraiser for former Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg, Climate 200 helps independent candidates with support in their local community raise money to contest federal elections.

Candidates must support policies to effectively manage climate change, improve integrity in politics and advance safety and respect for women.

In 2022, the group contributed about $6m to teal independents including Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel, Kylea Tink and Kate Chaney.

Supporting eight incumbent MPs and 27 challengers ahead of the May election, Climate 200 helped independent Nicolette Boele win the previously Liberal-held seat of Bradfield.

Liberal Tim Wilson reclaimed the Melbourne seat of Goldstein from Daniel and Climate 200 was disappointed in a number of races, including former Triple J radio host Alex Dyson’s bid to unseat Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan in Wannon.

Hook said the organisation would expand again ahead of the next election, including providing seed funding for local campaigns, as well as training and support.

“We anticipate there’ll be more growth, more communities wanting to get involved in their democracy. That’s the ultimate outcome and that’s why the movement is growing.”

Holmes à Court said the group could provide funding in more than one in three electorates at the next election.

“Helping communities scale earlier is a big part of our strategy.

“In 2019 there were 500,000 votes for independents. In 2022, [it] was 770,000 and at the last election it was 1.1 million.”

A Labor-Coalition deal to change political donation and campaign laws will alter some aspects of Climate 200’s work before the next election, including heavily restricting contributions and spending, and reducing the threshold for public disclosure of donors from $16,900 to $5,000.

Donations and data for this year’s election will be released by the Australian electoral commission in 2026.