Senate debates Motions

Climate Change


Richard Di Natale

Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens

12:36 pm

I move:

(a) notes the:

  (i) obligation for parties to the Paris Agreement to consider the 'right to health' in the national climate change response, and

  (ii) substantial and growing body of evidence highlighting the public health risks posed by climate change;

(b) recognises the:

  (i) need to protect the health and wellbeing of present and future Australians from the health impacts of climate change,

  (ii) economic and health co-benefits from climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, including reduced air pollution and cases of related cardiovascular and respiratory disease and reduced exposure to extreme weather events, and

  (iii) release of the Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-­being; and

(c) calls on the Government to implement policies that will simultaneously protect the health and well-being of Australians and combat the health impacts of climate change on the health of the Australian community.

James McGrath

James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

12:37 pm

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines Deputy-President

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath

James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

Australia is playing its part in international action to respond to climate change. We have a strong record on our international targets and have ratified the Paris agreement. Our 2030 target under the Paris agreement is to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. This is a strong, ambitious and responsible target that will see Australia's emissions per person halved, and it is among the largest of any major economy on this basis.

Question agreed to.