Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by Senator Waters today relating to climate change.

Australia has an extraordinary opportunity in front of it to host the world's biggest climate conference, COP31, in Adelaide next year. It could be a defining moment for Australia to show genuine global leadership and put an end to dirty fossil fuel projects across the country. The Prime Minister should do everything—everything—within his power to secure this bid. Frankly, his failing to attend this year's COP is a massive cop-out. By hosting COP31, Australia would show that it is serious about tackling the climate crisis and building a clean energy future. It's about working hand in hand with our Pacific neighbours, who are already leading with courage and conviction on the global stage. The Pacific is ready to lead alongside us. Their leaders have deep, proven climate credentials on the world stage. Pacific nations have been the moral compass of the climate movement for decades. As Pacific climate leader Joseph Sikulu said, 'If anybody is owed a COP in this world, it's the Pacific.'

Right now, Australia remains one of the biggest exporters of climate chaos in the world. Today, the Western Australian government's own report confirms our LNG exports to Asian countries are undermining cuts to global emissions—a narrative that this Labor government frequently peddles, dusted. Securing COP21 matters. It forces us to show the world who we are. Are we a nation that clings to the past or one that wants to lead the region towards a cleaner, fairer future? The Prime Minister must pull out all stops in these final days to secure the bid and show that we can match ambition with action. If this government doesn't secure it, they need to know that they are certainly not off the hook. This government's responsibility does not end with a lost bid; it starts with real action. Stop approving new coal and gas projects. Commit to a fair and fast phase-out of fossil fuels, invest in clean energy and support the communities already being pummelled by the climate crisis.

Minister, the irony is, quite frankly, striking. You gave a shout-out to the young people at the start of your answer while the government condemns the young people of this country to a future of climate calamity and uncertainty. You ask us to see the engagement that you've had with the Pacific nations. Well, I've had the privilege of working alongside Pacific nations on the front lines of the climate crisis right across the region, from Tuvalu to Vanuatu to Samoa to Fiji to Kiribati to Solomon Islands. These are some of the most extraordinary activists you will ever encounter, and they know that the difference between 1.5 and two degrees of warming is catastrophic for them. It's the difference between them been able to stay on their lands to continue their culture, their traditions, their languages, and being forced to move because their islands simply go underwater, taking with them generations of history, cultural traditions—and their livelihoods, of course.

There is so much at stake, and they watched on in horror as this government approved the North West Shelf expansion and introduced climate targets that are woefully inadequate and will not keep us close to 1.5 degrees to keep them on their homelands. It is an utter disgrace. You call for respect for these leaders, but where is respect for Australians and young Pacific leaders fighting for their futures? Instead, we see your engagement with Chevron, with BHP and with the Minerals Council, who have all greenlit the loophole-ridden, so-called environment reforms, the outcome of which will be worse than the status quo. We've heard that from environment groups right across the sector here at Parliament House today. They're absolutely appalled at the speaking points that Labour are putting out and the falseness of the narrative that 'In a Hurry' Murray is peddling. You say there's been no discussion with multinationals about this bill—