Page 3337 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
that you can grow a strong economy that works for all Canberrans while tackling climate change and protecting the environment.
Our actions in the territory are in stark contrast to another government that happens to convene in our city. The federal Liberal government has been shocking when it comes to climate change. My colleague the Attorney-General, in another debate yesterday, highlighted how the Canberra Liberals bring into this place the conservative agenda of their federal Liberal Party time after time. I hope that they do not do this in this debate. I hope that the Canberra Liberals support the motion that is before the chamber; not only that, but clearly commit to tackling climate change.
I also hope that the Canberra Liberals call out the outrageous remarks of their Deputy Prime Minister about the Pacific Islands. I will not read out those remarks in this place, but I will table the article that reports on those insulting and offensive comments about our Pacific Islander brothers and sisters. I present the following paper:
Pacific islands will survive climate crisis because they ‘pick our fruit’, Australia’s deputy PM says—Copy of article from The Guardian, 16 August 2019.
Those sorts of comments have no place in a vibrant and inclusive Canberra. The Canberra Liberals must condemn the Deputy Prime Minister. They must also call out the outrageous actions of the Prime Minister at the Pacific Islands Forum. We cannot stand by and allow the PM to insult Canberrans of Pacific Islands heritage.
It is reported that at one point during the forum the Tongan Prime Minister cried as he reflected on what two young women had said at a climate change summit about their future and fears. Yet the Australian PM chose not to act on climate change. Let me quote the Tuvalu PM, who said about the Australian Prime Minister, “You are trying to save your economy, I am trying to save my people.”
We must listen to our young people and the people who will be directly impacted because of Australia’s failures on climate change. I urge the unanimous adoption of this motion and for the Canberra Liberals to stand up for all Canberrans.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (10.53): I thank members for bringing this motion here, but they may have missed the mark on some of the other challenges that are facing their portfolio responsibilities that probably deserve more attention than encouraging school students to skip school. This motion would be easier to swallow if it were not so heavily laced with the inconsequential detritus that it has, but I guess that when the government needs something to draw the eye from the manifest issues in our education system, this is the product that we are served up. Whether it be our comparative academic underperformance, the numerous issues of violence against students and employees of the Education Directorate, our inadequate facilities or the overcrowding of numerous schools up and down the territory, anything that serves as a distraction would be welcomed by this government.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video