Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

It is sad that even when we have a government that is serious about doing something about climate change and is in here talking about it, the Greens want to just carry on with their usual stunts. This report does show that we are experiencing changes to weather and climate extremes, which are happening at an increased pace across Australia. Australia's climate has warmed by 1.47 degrees on average since national records began in 1910, and the impacts are being experienced across the country. While Australia has always been known as a land of drought and flooding rain, the past five years have been beyond anything we have seen in our history. This report shows an increase in extreme heat events, intense heavy rains, longer fire seasons and sea level rises. We've lurched from prolonged drought into the Black Summer bushfires and now into the unfolding flood and storm situation that's impacting across Australia's southern and eastern states.

The report found that continued increasing temperatures are leading to more heat extremes and fewer cold extremes. What this means is that there is an increase in the number of dangerous fire weather days and longer fire danger seasons across southern and eastern Australia. We can also expect to see more heatwaves; heat is already our most dangerous natural hazard, killing more people than all other hazards combined. I want to acknowledge the work between the Bureau of Meteorology, emergency management agencies and the departments of health for the national implementation of the Australian Warning System for heat. (Time expired)