Senate debates

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Motions

Climate Change

12:34 pm

Photo of Lisa SinghLisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) climate change has been on the G20 agenda at the most recent leaders' meetings in France, Mexico and Russia, and

(ii) former Australians of the Year, Sir Gustav Nossal, Ms Fiona Stanley and Nobel Laureate Mr Peter Doherty have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister (Mr Abbott) calling for climate change to be included on the G20 agenda because current climate trends, driven by global warming, threaten the basis of future economic prosperity, regional political stability and human health; and

(b) calls on the Prime Minister to put climate change onto the agenda for the upcoming G20 Summit in Brisbane as one of the key financial and environmental risks currently threatening global economic prosperity.

12:35 pm

Photo of Mitch FifieldMitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Gavin MarshallGavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Mitch FifieldMitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | | Hansard source

The government does not support this motion as the Prime Minister has previously stated that the focus of the G20 will overwhelmingly be on economic security, our financial stabilisation and the importance of private sector led growth.

Question agreed to.