Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Canning—to ditch net zero. We know, after crushing election defeats, that the coalition have failed to resonate with women, young people and voters in cities and much of metropolitan Australia. But, instead of uniting around modern policies on climate action, the Liberal Party and the National Party are instead fighting amongst themselves.

While the coalition is reviewing its commitment to net zero and the Greens are grandstanding with motions and stunts, Labor is taking real action on climate change: strengthening the safeguard mechanism, working towards net zero, strengthening our environmental laws and, soon, finalising our first national climate risk assessment and adaptation plan to make our country more resilient.

Our commitment to climate change doesn't end there; it extends to our oceans and our reefs. We know climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide, including the Great Barrier Reef. That is why Australia is doing more than ever under our government to manage and protect the reef's outstanding universal value. Together with the Queensland government, we are investing over $5 billion through to 2030 improve water quality, control crown-of-thorns starfish, reduce marine debris and protect marine life. We're on track to deliver all of our UNESCO commitments on water quality, sustainable fisheries and climate action.

All of these efforts—emissions reduction, adaptation planning and marine protection—are about safeguarding Australia's future. They're about protecting communities, industries and ecosystems from the climate impacts that we know are being felt. So when this motion calls on the government to demonstrate that its climate response will protect reefs, communities and economies, the answer is clear: we are. Through unprecedented investment and serious policy work by the government and the cabinet, we are acting where others are simply delaying or grandstanding. We are building resilience while those opposite descend into division and while the Greens simply put— (Time expired)