The last time a Labor candidate was elected in Hume, Gough Whitlam had just been made Prime Minister but that history isn't fazing climate and energy spokesperson Chris Bowen.
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The McMahon MP, who has served in Parliament since 2004, is coming to Goulburn to host a talk on economic opportunities and climate change on February 3.
It's issues like the climate emergency that Mr Bowen thinks will make the upcoming federal election, especially in regional areas like Hume, extremely close.
"I think it will be a big issue," he told the Goulburn Post.
"It was a big issue at the last election as well but I do think now more than ever Australians are seeing the opportunities of action on climate change.
"It's always been painted as a cost and one that conservatives have argued is not worth paying."
"If we get it right it creates investment and jobs. I think there's been a pretty big sea change in that perception.
"I think the election will be really close. At this point you can't call it and the Labor Party is in with a chance because this government is so incompetent but we do have a long way to go. Changing the government is difficult, it doesn't happen very often."
Whilst the talk will focus on climate change in the region, it will also likely serve as a key lead up to Labor's unveiling of their candidate which Mr Bowen described as close.
With incumbent MP Angus Taylor and Voices for Hume Independent Penny Ackery set to command plenty of attention, Bowen said pitching Labor's new climate policy, an area that backfired on them in 2019, will be key to winning hearts and minds.
"Rural areas are the ones that pay the price of climate change," he said.
"Farming productivity and profit falls, natural disasters are worse in rural areas but the flip side is there is opportunity in areas like Hume.
"Our policy announced last year wants to create 600,000 jobs [in renewables] but five out of six are in the regions. Apart from solar panels on roofs, you can't generate renewable energy and storage in cities.
"It's got to be in the regions."
The talk will be held on February 3, starting at 7pm at The Attic at the Astor.
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