Page 4288 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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During her time in my office, I asked Eleanor what issue she felt passionate about and wanted to see more action on. I am pleased to be able to use some of the notes from Eleanor in her time in my office here in this adjournment debate.
Eleanor told me that as a young person she is passionate about climate change and the way it will affect her future. She told me that young people often feel ignored by government when it comes to this issue and see that climate change is the largest threat to her and future generations. Sadly, she tells me that sometimes she feels, and young people feel, that governments are more focused on short-term issues than fighting longer term problems.
As well as being concerned about the eventual threat of climate change, we can already see the effects here in the ACT. My electorate of Brindabella, where the grass is greener and the sun shines brighter—that is a regular line of mine—is a very rural-focused electorate, which is very large and spread out, and vulnerable to bushfires. Last bushfire season was the longest one since 2003, lasting for eight months. This year is also predicted to be a long, and possibly dangerous, bushfire season. The threat of these bushfires and the length of the seasons as a result of changing climate are symptomatic of the problems that climate change is causing around the world. Increased global temperatures and decreased rainfall lead to drying out effects that worsen local bushfires.
Eleanor tells me, and I will use her words, that she is very pleased that this ACT Labor government is committed to reducing the impacts of climate change on our city and our community, doing all we can to combat the very real threat that climate change poses, making tangible changes to the way we impact on the environment, and harnessing resources such as renewable energy. Through this, Eleanor sees that the government is taking much-needed action on climate change, making the ACT’s the most proactive government in this country. I am pleased to share those views with Eleanor.
By making Canberra the first city outside Europe to run on 100 per cent renewable energy, the government here, the ACT Labor government, is committed to combating climate change and setting an example for the world stage.
As Eleanor says, climate change is not an issue that can be dealt with and resolved on the other side of the world. We need to participate. We need to be part of the solution, which requires action from everybody. In times when we are seeing inaction from the federal government, it becomes all the more important that a progressive state and territory government such as ours steps up and takes that action. Eleanor and I share the view that everyone involved in making the ACT 100 per cent renewable, and the work that this government has done, is to be applauded.
I want to thank Eleanor for her time in our office. It is always good to have a litmus test of our policies and processes through the young voices of our community, the next generation. We are here to serve them and make sure that they have the world and the community they can benefit from. It stands us all in good stead to make sure that we have that ear to the next generation and ensure that those voices are heard. To
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