House debates

Thursday, 1 June 2023

Statements by Members

Climate Change

1:52 pm

Photo of Louise Miller-FrostLouise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

This morning I attended the Parliamentary Friends of Climate Action's briefing on international climate policy, where we heard from US ambassador Caroline Kennedy, EU ambassador Gabriele Visentin, German ambassador Dr Markus Ederer, and British high commissioner Vicki Treadell. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, thanked the German ambassador for the 50-million-euro investment for the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator, which will have green hydrogen projects in Australia, including in Whyalla in my home state.

The panel then told us that climate science and the urgent need for action to prevent catastrophic climate change largely enjoys bipartisan support internationally, with parties instead competing on strategies to achieve climate action and industry exceeding the targets set it. We heard that our 43 per cent by 2030 has put us back at the trade table internationally, and, for instance, the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement was previously blocked by the previous government's recalcitrant stance on climate action.

Photo of Sharon ClaydonSharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Member for Wannon, it's highly disorderly to be interjecting when you're not even in your seat.

Photo of Louise Miller-FrostLouise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

And we heard that the illegal invasion of Ukraine has driven home that energy security is a geopolitical issue.

People in Boothby often raise climate action with me, and I'm pleased to be able to tell them that this government is taking action and working with our international partners to limit climate change. But, with 2030 only 79 months away, we have no time to lose. (Time expired)