Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I rise on behalf of the Australian Greens to make a short statement. Just as we did in this chamber two weeks ago, we express our deep sadness and our grief at the lives, homes and habitat lost from these catastrophic bushfires. We again extend our deepest gratitude to the women and men who have been putting their lives on the line to contain these unprecedented fires from burning across multiple states. When you consider the level of containment of these fires in terms of damage to property and lives, it's remarkable given how extreme the fire and weather conditions have been. To put it simply, our volunteer and professional firefighters have behaved like heroes. We thank them very deeply for their wonderful efforts.

But thoughts are not enough. What our firefighters are telling us is that they're dreading the months ahead as we enter into what has traditionally been known as bushfire season. But that's a season that no longer exists in the age of our climate crisis, because our bushfire season now extends to an almost all-year-round threat. So let me be crystal clear: the Australian Greens will not stop talking about what is driving these fires. We will not be silenced, because we know that these disasters are happening with more intensity and greater frequency, and that's putting people's lives at risk. Let me be even clearer: what is driving these fires is the burning of coal, oil and gas, and we now know that Australia's greenhouse pollution from coal, oil and gas is the highest it has ever been. What Australian climate scientists who were working on bushfires said back in 2006 has now come to pass. Governments have had an opportunity to act and, at every stage, they have failed. If we don't face up to this fact, we will continue to put communities and, indeed, firefighters in harm's way.

So, again, of course we express our thoughts for the people who have suffered from these fires. We also know that government's highest priority should be keeping its citizens safe. That means no longer locking in behind the coal, oil and gas industry. What our communities desperately need now is a rapid transition to a renewable energy economy and to unlock the thousands of jobs that come with that investment. That requires a plan. Again, we reach out to the government and the opposition. We reach out to them and say we are prepared to work on a plan across party lines about how we can drive down pollution and create those jobs that will come with this planned transition and ensure that no person is left behind.

Since the last statements in the Senate on bushfires two weeks ago, we've seen more casualties, taking the total to four. We've seen insurance claims for destroyed property increase from 150 to 500. We have seen catastrophic code red warnings called in South Australia and Victoria. We know that conditions usually expected in January and February are occurring right now. Climate change is no longer something for future generations to be concerned about; it is happening right now, and we are experiencing the effects of the climate crisis.

So, again, let me say this: I know there are many politicians in this place, many people in the gallery and many journalists who want us to be silent. We won't be silenced. We'll continue to do everything within our power to keep the issue of the climate breakdown front and centre during these national disasters, because now's not the time for silence and now's not the time for appeasement. Now is the time to fight for those communities, for our firefighters and for all of the animals that live in habitat that's being destroyed. We will continue every day to remind the Australian community of this government's culpability and responsibility for these tragic events.