Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on behalf of millions of Australians who are demanding real and urgent action on climate change, many of whom have signed the monster climate petition approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. More than 72,000 people have signed the petition, and that number is continuing to grow. Today I table just a portion of the petition, signed by 23,920 people. The petition reads:

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives

This petition of Australia’s daughters and sons, parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, draws to the attention of the House the damage to the earth’s climate and its oceans from humanity’s continuing and increasing carbon emissions and the consequent severe risks to the future health, safety and well-being of our children and our children’s children and future generations.

We remind the House that it is the fundamental duty of parliament, including this House, to protect Australia’s people, land and seas.

We therefore ask the House to respect the science and build a safe climate future for our children and grandchildren and generations to come by enacting immediate and deep reductions to Australia’s carbon emissions. We also ask the House to commit to and actively promote and support global strategies for immediate and deep reductions to global emissions at every designated international forum.

To that I say 'Hear, hear!' That is a sentiment that should be adopted by this House. I say to the government and the Prime Minister that if they really wanted to keep us safe they would also keep Australia safe from the effects of climate change.

Petition received.