Kate Thwaites (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to support the declaration of a climate emergency by this parliament. The people of Australia have been clear in their support for this declaration, with more than 400,000 signing the e-petition, which I know the member for Warringah plans to table today. In my own electorate, there is strong support for action to tackle climate change. I have received numerous calls and emails from constituents asking me to fight for action and yet all we get from this government is denial. Following Greta Thunberg's UN speech, the Prime Minister said the climate debate subjected children to 'needless anxiety'. He said that young people needed more context and perspective on the issue and that we should 'let kids be kids'. The proposition that passionate and vocal young women should just shut up and be kids is offensive. We should not discourage young people and our community more broadly from standing up for what they believe in and arguing for the future because, without serious action to tackle climate change, there are serious consequences for our young people, consequences acknowledged by experts such as the AMA, who have warned that we will all suffer because of the effects of climate change. I put my full support behind the member for Hindmarsh's motion on behalf of the Labor Party demanding the declaration of a climate emergency by this parliament. Let's set the culture wars aside and all get on board with a genuine approach to combatting climate change.