Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. Today this motion celebrates the power of ordinary Australians to secure a safe climate future. Both the federal and Queensland governments are in lock-step with Australian and Indian mining billionaires as they try to build one of the world's biggest coal ports right in the heart of the reef at Abbot Point. Already, nine international banks have ruled out financing the Abbot Point coal port and Australians are waiting for the big four Australian banks to start listening and join them. The Australian Youth Climate Coalition's 'Dump Your Bank' campaign helps ordinary customers break up with their bank by moving their money. They are making sure that savings are not used to fund the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and our climate. Where our government has failed to act, ordinary Australians are stepping up and taking control of their own future. They are telling the big four banks it is not a good investment if it is wrecking the planet and in this age of climate change Australia cannot afford to open up the coal megamines in the Galilee Basin. I commend this motion to the Senate.