Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to give voice to the Raise Our Voice campaign. Emilia has written the following submission:

My name is Emilia, I am 15 years old and I live in the South Australian electorate of Spence. I'm concerned about my future. I'm concerned about the bushfires that engulfed my local community when I was 12 and the smoke that we could smell for weeks after. With our communities starting to wither from natural disasters, I am concerned about my future, I'm concerned about the raging impacts of climate change and most importantly, I'm concerned about how our decision makers are doing nothing about. Nothing to reduce our emissions, nothing to protect our ecosystem and communities, nothing for our future.

Young people are most at risk for climate change and we can't vote, and I can't vote. So in this democracy, the only thing I can do, is shout. This new government needs to reduce our national emissions. This new government needs to act on the impending threat of climate change. This new government needs to support our future. Thank you.

Well, Emilia, after nine long years of the environment and climate being an afterthought, I'm proud to stand here today as your representative for Spence and as part of an Albanese Labor government that is getting on with delivering real action on climate change and the environment so that your generation and generations to come can continue to live on this planet. We will ensure a better future for all.