02/03/2020

(AU) Why I'm Introducing The People’s Climate Change Bill

Sydney Morning Herald - Zali Steggall*

My dream as a 13-year-old was to get to the top of my sport. As an Australian competing in a sport dominated by northern-hemisphere countries, the odds were against me and there were many who didn’t believe it was possible. But with ambition, a lot of hard work and resilience, it was possible.
Government failure has increased the cost of the transition to clean energy. Credit: Jessica Shapiro
My challenge now is to set Australia on a safer climate future, for my kids and future generations. That is why I will be introducing the people’s Climate Change Bill to the Australian Parliament in March, to end a decade of divisive politics over Australia’s future.
Sadly, the lessons of this summer already seem forgotten as Liberal backbenchers Jason Falinski MP and Tim Wilson MP couldn’t resist playing politics and misrepresenting the bill in an opinion piece in these pages last week.
So I am calling on all MPs to think carefully about the responsibility they owe to their electorates, their children and future generations and support this plan for the future with a conscience vote. Our country is crying out for certainty on climate policy and this is what the bill provides. As I write, more than 60,000 Australians have signed up to the website calling for a Climate Change Bill to be supported by all members of Parliament.
According to the most recent Climate of the Nation report, more than 81 per cent of Australians believe climate change will lead to more droughts and flooding, while 64 per cent believe the country should have a national target for net zero emissions by 2050.
To protect our economy and environment, Australia must have strong national plans to adapt and mitigate the increasing impacts of climate change. The only way we can keep Australia safe is to set our goal to stay below 2 degrees of warming and work our hardest to get there.
The bill’s central purpose is to assist with this. It does this by establishing a sensible framework, endorsed by business including the Australian Industry Group and Business Council of Australia. This type of framework has enjoyed bipartisan support in Britain since 2008 and New Zealand since last year – to name but two.
Part of this framework sets up in law a net zero emissions target by 2050. More than 80 per cent of businesses support this, and all Australian states and territories already have this in law or policy. This bill includes establishing an independent Reserve Bank-style Climate Change Commission, tasked with advising government on the best way to get to net zero, climate risks and the progress towards targets.
Falinski and Wilson argued Australia already has a Climate Change Authority to do this. But they failed to mention that since being completely gutted by the Abbott Coalition government in 2015, the CCA is little used and ineffective.
The new Climate Change Commission will report regularly, independently and publicly without referral, and ensure transparency and accountability for the Australian people.
Coalition members have also raised concerns about potential duplication of efforts with states under this bill. Written very clearly in the text of the legislation is a requirement for efforts by the Climate Change Commission and government to be compatible with the states and territories.
The bill also fills vital gaps in Australia’s policy landscape. It will require regular national risk assessments outlining the effect to Australia from climate impacts such as fires, droughts, seas level rise and extreme weather events, and regional development and employment planning impacted by a transition away from fossil fuels.
Five-yearly adaptation plans are then implemented by the government in response to those risks. After the performance of the government in preparing for and responding to this season’s catastrophic and unprecedented bushfires, the value is clear in having future-focused adaptation and mitigation plans.
There is no issue of constitutional validity of the Bill, as raised in the Falinski and Wilson article. This is only another ‘"fear and smear" attempt by its opponents.
The Australian Constitution gives the right to legislate with respect to "external affairs", thus allowing the Parliament to pass legislation giving effect within Australia to its obligations under international treaties and conventions. This Bill goes to the core objective of meeting our obligations under the Paris Agreement and therefore is consistent with this.
The Bill also does not purport to remove the ultimate decision making from the minister, or any of the executive branch of government, as alleged. The discretion remains with the executive but introduces a level of accountability and transparency.
The challenge ahead is not simple, but it is not something to shrink away from but to face square on, with bipartisan support, with resolution and a plan. The stakes are high. But this is a race we must and can win.

*Zali Steggall MP is the independent member for Warringah in the House of Representatives.

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