Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Hate and climate denial have been defeated at the ballot box in the United States this week. Congratulations to Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the thousands of activists who helped get rid of Donald Trump. This result is a win for people power, and it's a win that gives our climate and our civilisation a fighting chance. Joe Biden has committed to rejoining Paris, delivering zero carbon electricity by 2035 and investing $2 trillion with a green new deal to tackle the climate crisis. This result is a mandate from the world's largest democracy that it's time for urgent action to tackle the climate emergency. And the establishment parties here must learn the right lessons from this result. No longer can they spin the lie fed to them by their donors in the coal and gas lobby that climate denial wins elections. Joe Biden has won more votes in this election than any candidate in US history and he's done so with stronger climate targets than either Liberal or Labor. Liberal climate plans will leave Australia behind and put lives at risk, but Labor's letting them off the hook by going weak on 2030 targets. We are in a climate emergency, but the establishment parties are out this very day saying that they want to burn more coal and gas, dangerously lifting global heating. If we continue delaying climate action, Australia will be at risk and we will miss the incredible economic opportunity that we have to lead the world in green energy. This is the critical decade. What we do in the next 10 years will decide the future of our planet, and I say to the government, listen to the voices of the millions at home and abroad—(Time expired)

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