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

Last week I met with members of the newly formed Australian Conservation Foundation Community Inner Melbourne group. Core members of the group include chair, Don Vogt; secretary, Jennifer Burger; Nikhil Sobti; Meredith Budge and Pauline Sheehan. They've formed because they know that we are facing a climate crisis and they want to see an end to the mining and burning of coal, with a shift to 100 per cent renewable energy. They also want to see coal communities supported through this transition.

They're canvassing community support for these actions and specifically pushing for politicians like me to take action. I'm inspired by the work that they're doing to keep our climate safe for all of us and for our children. They're working in our local Melbourne community to build a movement for real climate action. The group has had hundreds of conversations with local Melburnians. They've held stalls, made phone calls and are screening 'stop Adani' documentaries. I'm proud to say that the Melbourne community is backing them. Over 80 per cent of the people they've spoken with at market stalls have signed their petition and have backed their call to replace polluting coal with renewable energy.

Today, in parliament, I say that I also back that call. We must quit coal, and we must make the rapid transition to clean renewables. To the ACF Community Inner Melbourne group and everybody who is taking action for a safe climate, thank you. It's people like you, and countless others around Australia and the world, who will ensure that we can protect our planet and our way of life.