Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I present this petition approved by the Petitions Committee titled 'urgent action on climate change'.

The petition read as follows—

The petition of members of the community of Saint Ignatius' College draws to the attention of the House that the impact of climate change is being felt across Australia and in particular the impact on members of the community of Saint Ignatius' College many of whom are from regional Australia and Indigenous Communities including the Torres Strait Islands. Australia is currently experiencing more frequent and severe climatic conditions often impacting the most vulnerable in our communities with people losing their lives, homes, livelihoods, and sacred sites.

We therefore ask the House to take immediate action to reduce the impacts of climate change by urgent reductions in greenhouse emissions and supporting those most impacted by climate change Torres Strait Islander and regional communities in order to protect populations locally and globally.

from 889 citizens (Petition No. PN0561)

Petition received.

Over 800 members of the community of Saint Ignatius' College Riverview in my electorate of North Sydney have put their name to this petition to urgently draw our parliament's attention to the impact of climate change across Australia. They specifically ask us to acknowledge that Australia is experiencing more frequent and severe climactic conditions, which particularly impact the most vulnerable in our community, including those from regional Australia; and Indigenous communities, including the Torres Strait Islands, with people losing their homes, livelihoods and sacred sites.

These students have asked this House to take immediate action to reduce the impacts of climate change by urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting impacted communities. They are articulate, compassionate and inspiring, and typical of the young people I meet every day in my community. Indeed, in a recent youth summit, people from across North Sydney spoke with me about the issues facing their generation, with environmental concerns high on their agenda. One student actually shared with me that she had moved to Australia two years ago only to face a barrage of bushfires and flooding, which completely crushed her ideal vision of Australia. Another worried about the rapid rate of deforestation and extinctions. These voices are the future, and we all have a responsibility to hear them and take action to protect the planet they will inherit. I encourage my fellow parliamentarians to heed this petition.

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