Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The State of the climate report identifies that climate risk is escalating, extreme weather events are intensifying and gross emissions remain far too high to keep to the temperatures of the Paris Agreement. What is missing is political will to reduce gross emissions. We've seen, in Spain, communities are paying the price with their lives. Voters are entitled to know the government's position before the next election. Will you announce and commit to an ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Warringah for her question and acknowledge her genuine commitment to acting on climate change and the fact that she has been such a strong advocate on these issues.

I share the concern that is identified by the work that the CSIRO have done. The science has told us for some time that Australia is vulnerable to increased temperatures, not only because we are part of the globe. Actually, the science is telling us the temperature rise here is higher than the international one—higher because we are particularly vulnerable. This report also says that there will be a decrease in rain, but it will be more intense. So, if you have drier areas and then you have an extreme rain event, then you will have more flooding.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know why this is funny. For those people who deal with natural disasters in this country, and I've been in a range of electorates dealing with that—

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! No. The Prime Minister is going to pause.

The member for Mitchell is not helping the situation and is now warned. We're just going to reduce the level. It's far too high. I just want to hear what the Prime Minister is saying. The member for Warringah has asked her question. She deserves a response, as every member who asks a question does. So, for the remainder of this answer, we'll just listen—hopefully, in silence.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the relatively short time that I've had the privilege of being Prime Minister of this country, I've been to Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia looking at the devastation that was there when that whole region was cut off because of the bridge being washed away. I've been to the Riverland in South Australia looking at the devastating impacts that have occurred there. I've been with the member for Riverina and the member for Calare, having a look at the damage in western New South Wales and the area just to the north of us here in Canberra. I've been to Far North Queensland, including with the member for Leichardt, to see the devastating impact that it's had in places like Wujal Wujal as well as in the northern beach areas of Cairns in particular. I've been to the Gold Coast hinterland and had a look at the impact there. What that tells us is that we are particularly vulnerable to these extreme weather events.

We have a very strong target that is legislated. For the first time we legislated net zero by 2050. We legislated for a 43 per cent reduction by 2030, and I thank the member for Warringah and others who supported that decision. We will of course take advice based upon the science, but we remain absolutely committed to acting on climate change. We're not just listening to the science but also being a part of global action on this issue because it is correct that no country in isolation can solve this. We need to work as part of the global community to make a difference for this generation, but, more importantly, for the generations to come.