Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate the last few paragraphs of my speech.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

Dr Blanch said, and I quote: ‘The extent of environmental damage and economic loss across the north of Australia that could be caused by climate change is immense. The scale is almost beyond comprehension.’ All these changes will have significant impacts on the Territory overall. The delicate ecosystems existing in our numerous national parks will be disrupted with increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall and cooler days; erosion, rising sea level and salt water inundations will also have devastating effects.

Labor intends to start acting on climate change now. The government has had 11 years to act on climate change, and it has failed to do so. Even with its current moves to act on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it remains a sceptic; we have only seen them talk about climate change when their pollsters informed them that the public is deeply concerned about it.

Labor will immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol and work with China to reduce greenhouse gases.

We will also drive in the clean renewable energy revolution by investing in wind, solar power and geothermal ‘hot rocks’ technology. We will develop an emissions trading scheme and responsibly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

Labor will invest in cleaner transport with the Green Car Innovation Fund, and help Australians to green their homes by providing $10,000 interest free loans for solar panels, water tanks and insulation.

We will encourage every Australian to make changes in the way we live so that we can properly combat the very real threat of climate change, and its devastating consequences.