Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I begin by making the observation that Boyne Smelters, located in Gladstone, is going 100 per cent renewable—so you can make aluminium on renewable energy.

We know that the climate crisis that is affecting every single Australian is caused by mining and burning coal, oil and gas. This has been well known for decades, yet Labor and the coalition continue to turn a blind eye in favour of significant political donations from billionaires who are reaping the profits of the damage they are causing to our environment. We consistently see the devastating impacts and damage from the increasing floods, bushfires, cyclones and storms nationwide.

Scientists say global heating now makes a sea level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap inevitable, even if fossil fuel burning was to end immediately. With continued carbon emissions and the melting of other ice caps, a multimetre sea level rise now appears likely. This would mean islands in the Torres Strait and many of our neighbours in the South Pacific would simply cease to exist. Yet this government continue to approve and subsidise new coal and gas projects; they're completely addicted to it. You can hardly blink without this government approving another coalmine, handing out a subsidy to a gas company or accepting a donation from Woodside or Santos. It's reflective of their approach to the environment too. Instead of working with the Greens to create a strong environmental protection authority and establish a climate trigger, the Labor Party turns around and offers Mr Dutton a veto on its environment policy. Why do you bother getting elected to government if you're going to check in with the Liberals before you do anything?

Again, Labor is failing to address the root cause of the climate crisis. Coal and gas are fuelling the climate breakdown, and Australia and the world cannot afford to open any more coal or gas mines. To continue to open up new coal and gas mines flies in the face of all scientific and environmental reason and will keep us on the path towards a planet that is no longer capable of supporting human life. Not only can we not open up new coal and gas mines; we must also phase out existing coal and gas extraction and energy production, and rapidly transition to a net zero emissions economy. With planning, compassion and foresight, we can tackle the greatest threat humanity has ever faced while embracing new energy opportunities, looking after workers and breathing new life into regional Australia without coal and gas.