Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge the many central Victorians who rallied on the weekend on Sunday in support of a call to action on climate change. Eight hundred people rallied in Kyneton and marched through the main street, 400 people rallied in Castlemaine and too marched through the streets, and an extra 300 people gathered in Bendigo in Rosalind Park to stand up and call on this government and call on the community to rally to save the RET.

I support the renewable energy target. It has created countless jobs in my own electorate. Solar companies continue to talk to me about the need to maintain the RET in its current form to ensure that their industry continues to grow. Bendigo is connecting to solar power from across the electorate—in their homes, in their businesses and even in their community. People solar projects are popping up everywhere. I support their work, and it is time that our government supported their work.

These rallies were among many that were held across Australia and across the globe to coincide with the Climate Summit for world leaders in New York at the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. It is just so disappointing for this nation, whose people believe in climate change, that its leader, its Prime Minister, is not at this important forum discussing this very important issue.