Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Well, it has been a dreadful start to the year when it comes to natural disasters in Australia. Over the summer, large parts of our country have been hit by destructive storms, floods, fires and deadly heatwaves. It underscores the fact that Australia is at the forefront front of climate change harms. In Ceduna, South Australia, the temperature reached a record 49.5 degrees on 26 January, and across south-eastern Australia communities endured temperatures above 40 degrees for seven or eight days straight. These are not isolated spikes but part of a pattern of longer, more extreme and more frequent heatwaves. Intense heatwaves like these are now five times more likely to occur, because of human-induced climate change. What we once considered an extraordinary heat event is now something a primary school student today will likely experience several times before they finish high school.

Also, last month, cyclone related intense rainfall led to flash-flooding in Queensland, destroying homes, livelihoods and livestock. Then, along Victoria's Great Ocean Road, communities saw their roads turn into swollen rivers in a matter of hours. People watched in horror as cars and caravans were swept away and familiar landscapes were torn apart. One week, the region had emergency evacuation orders, due to bushfires, then, a week later, they had them again, due to this flooding. This summer, Victoria also was seared by some of the most destructive bushfires in its history. A cattle farmer lost his life, and 900 structures were destroyed, including 338 homes. More than 15,000 livestock were lost.

My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and those who have lost homes, livelihoods and a sense of security. These events are deep personal tragedies that will be felt for years to come.

My own community of Mackellar is also at the forefront of climate change impacts. Recent severe rain events have been destructive and alarming. On 17 January this year, torrential rain struck our region, causing flooding in Narrabeen, Newport and Mackerel Beach. Two hundred and sixty-four millimetres of rain was recorded at Great Mackerel Beach, causing a landslide, impacting three homes, and sending a river of mud and trees smashing into the kitchen and living room of Mick and Sharon's home. It was only by sheer luck and quick thinking that they, thankfully, both avoided serious injury.

As a coastal seat, Mackellar has also been badly affected by sea-level rise and coastal erosion over the years. Again at Mackerel Beach, safe access for around 20 households is cut off daily at mid and high tide, due to coastal erosion. Residents must scramble over rocks and through waves to access their homes. In June 2016, a severe storm caused massive coastal erosion at Collaroy Beach, destroying several properties and causing an in-ground pool to collapse into the ocean.

I want to acknowledge and sincerely thank our emergency services personnel and first responders, the local RFS and SES volunteers, and fire and rescue services, who once again stepped up under extraordinary pressure. They are being asked to respond more often, in more dangerous conditions, and with less margin for error. But this burden cannot just fall on them, and it cannot continue to fall on affected communities. Governments and this parliament must step up. Natural disasters and extreme weather events in Australia are being exacerbated by climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. While communities across Australia are paying the price with their health, their homes and their livelihoods, first responders are often made to put their own lives at risk and deal with the aftermath.

There are different ways to make polluters pay for the damage their emissions are causing. One option is a climate disaster levy, which would require fossil fuel producers to contribute to the growing costs of disaster response, recovery and resilience. Another is outlined in a recent report from the Superpower Institute, which shows that a 'polluter pays levy' would raise significant public revenue, reduce emissions and help fund both household relief and Australia's transition to a cleaner, more prosperous economy. The impacts and costs to Australian households and businesses will keep rising, as fires, floods, drought and heatwaves become more extreme as a result of climate change, unless we also stop new coal and gas projects. It's time we made polluters pay.

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