This Labor government has a habit of approving big developments that communities are opposed to. Look at how this federal Labor government is refusing to put a moratorium on mega AI data centres until there are proper regulations in place. These are big developments that destroy our natural environment, adversely impact our tourism industry, and interfere with a person's right to live peacefully at home and in their community. So as this Labor government keeps approving big developments in the interests of big corporations who line their pockets with donations, the community is going to have to do more of what this federal Labor government isn't.

I know what it's like. There was a day where at my home, in my community, in what was then a $50-million-a year tourism industry, when a federal Labor government approved a big dirty, stinking pulp mill in my backyard. The community rose up and stopped that big development. So let me tell communities across Australia how we went about it to stop that dirty, stinking pulp mill and how we've gone about stopping other big developments that should never have been approved.

First, you must involve yourself in a community and political engagement campaign. Get the community together. You will not be the only one that has identified that our federal Labor government is doing something that's not in our interests and in the interests of the environment that we depend on. Organise a town hall meeting, call everyone together, organise for there to be appropriately qualified persons speaking at those community events and then keep the community organised. Engage politically. Speak to your elected representatives. They have been elected to make decisions that are in our best interests, and, when they're not doing so, we should let them know.

Second of three pillars to stop a big development that shouldn't proceed is litigation. When it came to the pulp mill, we challenged state and federal government approval decisions more so than any other project in the country. Often when a government makes a decision in the interests of a big corporation that lines its pockets, it's prone to make mistakes, as was my experience as a lawyer. So get legal advice. If there are grounds to run a case challenging a government decision then take the opportunity if you can.

Third, there's direct action. If that soil starts to turn, stand outside with a placard representing the position that you rightly hold if a big development has been approved that is in the wrong place and is not in the best interests of the community and our natural environment. So now, community, you know what you can do to do what the government isn't—to stand up for your rights, to stand up for your backyards and to stand up for your natural environment.

But of course, this federal Labor government can instead choose to make decisions for people rather than profit. My message to the community is: if the day comes when you are fed up with a federal Labor government who is not making decisions that you think they should, the Greens are here to make decisions for the community before corporations. Join the movement.