Action on Climate and Environment
My priorities
There’s still a long way to go and we are not moving fast enough. That’s why I want to:
Phase out fossil fuel subsidies
Strengthen & fast-track environmental approvals
Set an an ambitious emissions reduction target by 2035
Support firmed renewable energy as the cheapest energy source
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, but it will also safeguard our health, economic prosperity and national security for this and future generations.
Read my Safeguard mechanism submission.
Delivered
We’ve made progress to help protect our environment for future generations. We're on track for 43% emissions reduction by 2030 and our electricity system is now around 40% renewables. I’m proud to have helped deliver:
Stronger climate legislation – with tougher laws to crack down on pollution from Australia’s biggest emitters.
Efficiency standards for new vehicles – to cut new car emissions by 60% by 2030, lower fuel bills by up to $1,000, and boost EV take-up.
More action on nature protection – including increased investment via a new Nature Repair Market, stopping fossil fuel exploration at PEP-11, and properly assessing big projects’ impact on water resources.
You can learn about how I'm delivering for Curtin here.
Watch & Read
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.
ABC Afternoon Briefing - Kate Chaney Criticises Woodside Gas Extension in WA on ABC's Afternoon Briefing: “Outdated Laws, Oversized Impact” (link)
The Post - Secrecy, lax rules bug canopy fight (link)
ABC Radio Drive - Nature Positve Laws and Government Accountability (link)
The Post - Chaney says Nature Positive is teal deal (link)
Speeches in Parliament
Incentives for Hydrogen and Critical Minerals - 28 November 2024: Australia's new production tax incentives for hydrogen and critical minerals aim to boost investment and innovation in renewable energy industries, positioning the nation as a leader in the global net-zero economy. These incentives support onshore processing, economic diversification, and the development of green technologies critical to Australia’s future competitiveness. (link)
Matter of Public Importance - Climate Change - 27 November 2024: I highlight the urgent need for Australia, particularly WA, to seize opportunities in green metals as the world transitions from fossil fuels. By leveraging renewable energy to process iron ore into low-emission steel, Australia can significantly reduce global carbon emissions while securing long-term economic prosperity and strengthening its position as a critical global player in a decarbonising world. (link)
Home Electrification Funding - 21 November 2024: Australians can cut energy bills and stay cool by electrifying their homes with rooftop solar, batteries, and efficient appliances, reducing costs to a fraction of traditional setups. While the government’s billion-dollar Household Energy Upgrades Fund offers low-interest loans for these upgrades, better public awareness and equitable access are needed to ensure all Australians benefit from these energy-saving opportunities. (link)
Plastic Packaging Petition - 18 November 2024: Australia generates 59kg of single-use plastic waste per person annually, far exceeding the global average of 15kg, with most of it coming from packaging that ends up in landfill. I emphasise that while new government regulations aim to increase recycling, they lack measures to reduce plastic packaging production, a critical step to tackling plastic pollution and its contribution to climate change. (link)
Shothole Borer - 10th September 2024: The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, first detected in Australia near Curtin, has led to the removal of 3,500 trees across Perth as part of an eradication plan, which has ultimately failed to stop the pest's spread. Urgent action and a better management plan are needed, with the National Management Group required to allocate funding for research on how to control this pest, which threatens Australia's biosecurity and economy. (link)
Tabling the Greenpeace Petition - Protect the environment from Woodside's Burrup Hub -13 August 2024: I tabled a Greenpeace petition signed by 440,000 Australians, urging the government to protect the environment from Woodside's gas expansion plans in the fragile Scott Reef area. She highlighted the significant environmental and climate risks of the project, stressing the need for government action to prioritise nature and a sustainable future over corporate profits. (link)
In Detail
Nature Positive Reforms
The Government has failed to deliver on its promise to introduce significant Nature Positive Reforms to protect the places we love and ensure more efficient approval processes.
We are in biodiversity debt in Australia. The summer heatwaves of 2023-2024 were a tipping point in Western Australia and we experienced a forest collapse that changed the structure of our local bushland and forests.
The mandatory review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) commenced by the previous Coalition Government, found the EPBC woefully incapable of protecting our environment and also failing industry.
Passionate and knowledgeable volunteer conservation groups across Australia, including 19 in my electorate, steward the protection of our wetlands, bush, and coastal parks. They observe first-hand the impact of climate change, our deteriorating environment, and the extinction crisis.
I have listened closely to the Curtin electorate for the past three years and I know this remains a priority issue for our community.
The new Labor government in 2022 told us it was listening and promised significant EPBC reform, to be delivered in three stages during this term.
Stage 1 is complete and covered the Nature Repair Market and the water trigger.
Stage 2 was to create vital new institutions, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Environment Information Australia and Stage 3 was to set robust national standards and the bulk of the nature positive reforms.
The Government failed to keep this promise and Stages 2 and 3 have been shelved.
I know it’s a massive challenge to get the reforms right. Business needs certainty and faster decision making. Our beautiful state needs those decisions to be the right ones.
I have continued to engage constructively with the Minister on critical issues such as the application of a mitigation hierarchy, a recalibration of the purpose of the offset regime and a consideration of cumulative regional impact.
Listen to my speeches on Nature Positive issues here.
It is particularly disappointing that, once again, politics has got in the way of the biodiversity and conservation reforms Australia needs.
There is a strong perception in Western Australia, that the State EPA has been hijacked by industry pressure on the government to fast-track project development approvals at the expense of nature. Approvals do need to be faster, but we need to make the right decisions for the future of the state. The Cook Government was concerned about political ramifications of greater environmental oversight in the face of the upcoming election.
Yet again, short term politics is overriding long term good policy.
I will continue to maintain significant pressure on this Government and successive governments to implement robust Nature Positive reforms that deliver better outcomes for the places we love and our vital resources sector. I know this will be a significant issue in the upcoming Federal election particularly for my community here in Curtin.
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