Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Is it true that the opposition’s policy on climate change announced today will do almost nothing to protect seafront properties in Australia from the impact of climate change? Is it true that some 700,000 properties are threatened by potential climate change damage in this century?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brown is entitled, the same as any other senator in this place, to be heard in silence and there should be no interjections. Senator Brown is entitled to be heard in silence.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In view of the decision by the Land and Environment Court yesterday against the Byron Shire Council, is it the government’s intention to leave local government to pick up the tabs for the multibillion dollar bill that will accrue through coastal erosion to properties in Australia in the coming decades?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Brown for the question. I had assumed that, given the build-up to the opposition’s climate change policy, the big announcement that was billed today with Mr Abbott, Mr Hunt and Mr Truss out there trumpeting their great new policy, the first incoming would be to me saying, ‘Isn’t our policy great!’ They did not even want to front up and have an argument about their policy. It falls to Senator Brown to ask the government—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I need silence on both sides. Senator Wong, proceed.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. It falls to Senator Brown to ask me a question about the opposition’s policy, which is nothing more than a climate con job. That is all they come up with, with all the chest-beating and all the hoopla and all the threats and all the politics. All you have come up with is a climate con job. I am sure that we will have plenty of opportunity in the coming days to just find out exactly how much your policy will cost and that it will not work.

In response directly to the second part of Senator Brown’s question, I am aware of the decision of the Land and Environment Court. Obviously that is a New South Wales jurisdiction, but the senator would be aware that the Australian government is extremely concerned to ensure that we assist local government to gain an understanding of the risks of climate change. We released last year, as you may recall, a study into potential sea level rises as a result of climate change to enable different levels of government to better work together on a better knowledge base to plan for the future. The reality is that those opposite are now led by a man who thinks—and we know what he thinks of climate change—and I will come back to that later— (Time expired)

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for her answer and I point out, by way of asking the minister for comment, that the Byron Shire Council has led the world in a planned retreat policy, making it incumbent upon landowners and builders to be responsible for building within the zone which is threatened by climate change. But the Land and Environment Court has not upheld that. I ask the minister: how many billions of dollars does local government now face in payouts to people who built within the threatened zone? (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the senator would be aware, this is an issue that the government is very aware of. As I said, we published a study last year which looked at potential levels of sea level rise and the number of Australian buildings which could potentially be at risk. What the senator is asking about is really one of the manifestations of the costs of climate change. We know that climate change will affect, and is already affecting, our economy and our environment. We know that the Australian coasts are also under significant pressure. Certainly in my colleague Minister Garrett’s portfolio there is funding through the Caring for Coasts election commitment and, as I said, through my department we have also presented the national coastal risk assessment, which will assist, has assisted and is assisting local governments to better understand the risks. To be absolutely frank, can I say to the senator that this is an area that requires all levels of government to work together. (Time expired)

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. My question was directly about the cost. Is the Commonwealth going to leave local government to bear, totally by itself, the multibillion dollar tab from the erosion of Australia’s coastlines, which threatens up to 700,000 properties this century?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, what I say is that this is an example of why this nation has to act on climate change—because we know that the costs of failing to act are far greater than the costs of responsible action now. That was once the policy of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was once the policy of a number of the senators opposite who are now interjecting. I wonder why they do protest so much—because they know they have released a policy today which is nothing more than a climate con job.