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

I rise to support the referral and the motion that has been moved by the minister and welcome him doing so. Of course, as people would be aware, there were discussions and negotiations between the government and the Greens during the course of the debate about climate legislation. Out of those discussions arose the need to seek the Climate Change Authority's advice about pathways, so I welcome the referral because it's something that we consider to be very important.

One of the things that this referral seeks to do—and why we support it—is to ask for advice about what it means to put into practice a response to the climate crisis, in particular an Australian response to the climate crisis. We have a different view to the government about the emissions reductions targets, what should be put into place and how quickly we need to move to tackle the climate crisis, but one of the things that are important about this referral is that it includes a reference to the globally agreed goals that are in the Paris agreement. That includes the accepted goals about limiting global heating to well below two degrees while still keeping 1½ degrees in sight.

As has been previously alluded to, the Climate Change Authority, which was set up back in the 2010 parliament with the support of the Greens when we were in a shared-power parliament, was at that time a source of very important and independent advice. Then when the coalition was elected it was nobbled and there were tasks removed from it, including advising about how Australia's contribution will play a role in limiting global heating to well below two degrees. That was removed by the coalition, and the Climate Change Authority was essentially parked for a long time. The resurrection, if you like, of the Climate Change Authority and of asking it to do important work is important and a significant step, and it's one that we welcome.

But, in some respects, this is also going to be the first significant piece of independent work that the Climate Change Authority has been asked to do: to consider what Australia's contribution should be to meet those temperature goals. That is crucial. We certainly have the view that the science is very clear about what needs to be done to meet those temperature goals, and this is an opportunity now for some evidence based information for the parliament about what it would mean for Australia to do its bit to ensure that we meet those temperature goals.

People know what the Greens' position is around what needs to be done, but, critically, one of the things that we are all so excited about with this referral is that there are significant opportunities for Australia if we get our skates on and do what the rest of the world is asking. We have the capacity here in Australia to supply critical minerals and clean energy to the rest of the world and to sell to the rest of the world the products that they need in a zero-pollution society. This will hopefully be the first holistic piece of work that says, 'We know we need to get out of coal and gas and stop approving new mines, but we've got some massive opportunities over here on the other hand.' This could be the first significant piece of work to inform the parliament—and an independent piece of work.

I look forward to seeing what the Climate Change Authority comes up with that is consistent with the science. Again, I thank the minister for the referral. It's an important referral: revitalising the Climate Change Authority after a decade of it being attacked by the coalition. Let's not forget they tried to abolish it to ensure this parliament never had any independent advice. We saved it and kept it alive, and I'm pleased that it's now being asked to do some very significant work.

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