CLIMATE ACTION
I believe we need urgent action to protect our planet from the worst effects of climate change.
In Australia we are seeing the catastrophic impact of climate change through droughts, rising sea levels, bushfires, floods and other extreme weather events.
For many years the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been warning the world of projected increases in temperature. The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Australia last out of 60 countries on policy to address climate change. We need to listen to the science and experts, and act now.
Climate change also has a significant impact on health, particularly for our most vulnerable. Significant climate events and extreme weather increase the likelihood of worsening air quality and the spread of infectious disease, and have an immediate and long-term impact on the availability and distribution of food.
Making significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will not only help Australia to avoid the worst effects of climate change, it will safeguard our health, economic prosperity and national security for this and future generations.
Read my Safeguard mechanism submission.
Energy Efficiency Submission
In January 2023 I conducted a survey on how to improve household energy efficiency in Curtin. The 347 responses received formed the basis of a Curtin Community Submission to the National Energy Performance Strategy consultation. Read the submission here.
On 1 December, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, delivered the Government's first annual Climate Change Statement to Parliament as required under the new Climate Change Act. This statement and the accompanying advice from the Climate Change Authority, provide transparency on our progress towards emission reduction targets.
The statement outlines the need for a sector-by-sector decarbonisation plan. On current plans we are on track to a 40% emissions reduction by 2030, with further work to be done to get to the target of 43%.
In Question Time that day, I asked the Minister how the Government expects to meet (and preferably exceed) the 43% reduction target while continuing to approve new fossil fuel projects.
FUEL AND VEHICLE STANDARDS
Submission on National Fuel Efficiency Standard – 100% zero emission car sales by 2035
The Federal Government will introduce a national Fuel Efficiency Standard (FES) in the next year to increase the number of EVs available. Australia is currently a dumping ground for manufacturers’ most polluting cars, and local demand for EVs far outstrips supply. The Curtin Net Zero Transport Working Group made a submission calling for 100% of new car sales to be zero emissions by 2035, and a greater focus on public and active transport. You can read the submission here.
On 29 November 2022 I spoke in support of fellow Independent Crossbencher Kylea Tink for North Sydney's Private Members Bill (Reducing Vehicle Pollution).
This Bill does two things:
It improves our fuel standards so that our cars will run on better fuel that has lower sulfur and aromatics, in line with other countries.
And it ensures our vehicle emissions standards don’t fall behind international standards in the future.
