Page 1201 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 4 May 2022

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Omit all words after ‘Assembly’ and substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) this year, the climate crisis was described as the biggest threat to Australia’s security by former Australian defence leaders;

(b) these military leaders further said “The first duty of government is the safety and protection of the people, but Australia has failed when it comes to climate change threats. Australia currently has no credible climate policy, leaving our nation unprepared for increasingly harsh impacts”; and

(2) further notes:

(a) the relative investments made by governments of all levels sends a strong message about the priorities and values of Australians;

(b) Defence spending has increased by more than 300 percent over the last decade, and now stands at around nine times the total spent on diplomacy, aid and trade. Investment in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and along with it, Australia’s international aid program has hit all-time lows of 1.3 percent of the Federal budget; and

(c) genuine peace rests on international cooperation and development, and respect for human rights. A country as wealthy and as fortunate as Australia should be an international champion of multilateral moves towards peace;

(3) calls on this Assembly to:

(a) condemn all military aggression in the strongest possible way;

(b) acknowledge the contribution of Canberrans in supporting Australian security through their work in diplomacy, international partnerships, climate change, soft power and influence, intelligence and defence;

(c) recognise the suffering of ordinary people bearing the costs of war and the compassion and generosity of many Canberrans in their support of displaced, injured and traumatised people affected by war, particularly during the current conflict in Ukraine;

(d) acknowledge that current events in Ukraine can be particularly hard for veterans and their families, and also recognise the impact that the conflict is having on the ACT’s Ukrainian community; and

(e) affirm its staunch support:

(i) for all industries in Canberra that contribute to local, international and national security;

(ii) for commensurate investment in diplomacy, aid, trade and climate change mitigation and adaptation to levels of defence and military spending;

(iii) to tackle the Climate Emergency in order to create the conditions for peace and security for Australia and the region; and

(iv) to use the most effective means through which Australia can assist the efforts for peace in Ukraine and other conflict zones, noting particularly the critical role of supplies, sanctions and humanitarian efforts.”

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