Parliament at a turning point following harrowing climate report (15 September 2025)

15 September 2025

Independent Federal Member for Curtin Kate Chaney has responded to the long-awaited release of the first national climate risk assessment by calling on the federal parliament to unite behind the grim findings of the comprehensive report.  

“This report provides a deep insight into what our climate future looks like if we continue with business as usual; it’s a shocking read, and all Australians will be affected,” Ms Chaney said.  

“Let this be a wakeup call for the Federal Parliament. As elected representatives, we must all work together to tackle this – the greatest challenge of our generation and the next one.  

“The government of today, and the governments of tomorrow, have significant work ahead of them to prepare and protect communities across the country as we face a multitude of climate events in coming years.    

“Climate denial has resulted in years of inaction and indifference. For decades, scientists have pleaded with governments to act to prevent us from reaching 1.5C of warming. This goal is now out of reach. 

“As warming increases to 2C and beyond, my community will be grappling with twice as many heat-related deaths, and the loss of coastal infrastructure from flooding and erosion.  

“The climate risk to our natural environment is currently ‘very high’ and by 2050 the severity of that risk will be off the charts. National security, health and social supports, primary industries and food production are projected to face ‘very high’ to ‘severe’ risk within the next 20-30 years.   

“This is a turning point as we accept successive governments have done too little to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Now we must get on with the job of investing in effective adaptation and ambitiously reducing emissions.” 

The Federal Government is expected to reveal its 2035 emissions reduction target later this week. 

"The Government’s 2035 target is an important indicator of its long-term priorities,” Ms Chaney said. 

“A low target will do nothing but appease vested corporate interests, such as coal and gas companies, while consigning the rest of the community to a less prosperous future and higher risks to health and wellbeing.  

“It’s in the national interest that the Government follows the science of this climate risk assessment report and sets a strong emissions reduction target. Anything less than a commitment to a 75 percent reduction by 2035 is an admission that protecting people, places and the planet is too hard for this Government. 

ENDS  
 
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Cade Smith | Media and Communications Adviser 
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