Labor government urged to act on environmental issues

WWF-Australia and the Climate Council are asking newly re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to deliver bold action on nature and climate.

WWF-Australia congratulated Anthony Albanese and Labor on their victory in the recent federal election, urging Albanese to take action in his first 100 days.

“The impacts of climate change and nature loss are being felt across Australia and the window for effective action is rapidly closing,” said Dermot O’Gorman, CEO of WWF-Australia. “In [his] victory speech the Prime Minister acknowledged that climate change is a challenge we must act on together for the future of our environment.

“Voters have endorsed representatives that champion a clean energy future and the protection of our wildlife and wild places.

“Now it’s up to the new parliament to act on this mandate.”

In response to the federal election result, Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said that Australian voters have resoundingly rejected Peter Dutton and his nuclear plan.

“This was an energy referendum. Nuclear bombed at the ballot, with Australians dubbing it toxic. Australians backed a bright, clean, renewable energy future and endorsed the progress that has already been made,” McKenzie said. “Polls consistently showed nuclear was unpopular and voters preferred a renewable energy plan to a nuclear one.

“Peter Dutton is now just the third sitting party leader to lose their seat at a federal election. He not only nuked his party’s chances of winning with pro-pollution policies, but the nuclear fantasy has cost him his own seat.

“This is one of the lowest primary votes ever for the Liberal Party. Australians sent a clear message in 2022 and again tonight. The Liberal–National Coalition will continue to be unelectable until they come up with a credible policy to cut climate pollution. The largest voting cohort in Australia is now a climate voting block, with three-quarters of millennials and Gen Z saying climate is a top issue.

“This election has seen a strong swing to climate independents in areas left devastated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and right around the nation the Liberal Party’s heartland has eroded as if hit by a cyclone.

“Voters have shown they will punish candidates who make mistakes on climate issues. Peter Dutton admitted he was unsure about climate science while, in Gilmore, Liberal candidate Andrew Constance has been rejected after hinting the Coalition would withdraw Australia from the United Nations climate agreement.”

WWF-Australia will submit a brief to the incoming government that identifies 10 urgent actions to protect nature and address climate change in the first 100 days.

They include immediate steps to:

• invest 1% of the budget into nature;
• complete the reform of Australia’s nature laws;
• catalyse global and regional ocean protection;
• build a nature-positive economy; and
• replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.
   

O’Gorman said Labor must deliver on its pre-election promise to reform Australia’s nature laws and establish a national environment protection agency.

“Labor promised to fix our failing nature laws before the 2022 election, but instead we have seen reforms shelved and polluting industries put before nature,” he said. “The government must provide a timeline, scope and process for the reforms in the first 100 days with a view to getting Bills tabled in the first year of Parliament.”

O’Gorman said voters had also sent a clear message that they support a renewable energy future for Australia and the incoming government must respond.

“The Prime Minister vowed to make Australia a renewable energy superpower in his election victory speech in 2022,” he said. “Labor has made significant investments to keep Australia’s transition to renewables on track, but continues to approve coal and gas projects. Australia also remains a world leader on exporting climate-damaging fossil fuels.

“Every single tonne of additional coal and gas is putting the future of Australian communities and our iconic reefs, forests and wildlife at risk.

“We must change course this year to have any hope of a safer climate future.”

O’Gorman said Australia needs to set an emissions reduction target of at least 90% below 2005 levels by 2035 and commit to a phase-out of fossil fuels to truly become a renewable energy superpower.

“We also note the government’s pre-election commitment to hold COP31 in Adelaide, should Australia secure the event. A COP31 hosted by South Australia, a leader in the clean energy, must be a defining moment for Australia to step up and do its part to stabilise warming to 1.5°C. The South Australian and federal governments must work in equal partnership with the Pacific,” he said.

O’Gorman also urged the new government to deliver on its commitment to be a world leader in ocean protection.

“Global warming, overfishing and pollution are all having devastating impacts on our oceans,” he said. “We’re encouraged by Labor’s commitments to protect our oceans and call on the incoming government to start by ratifying the High Seas Treaty in the first sitting week of the new parliament.

“Early and decisive action on nature and climate in the first 100 days is essential to building public trust and creating a sustainable and resilient future.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Dilok Klaisataporn