Page 10 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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We must also continue to work across borders and governments in the appraisal of the incredible ecological damage that has hit our national parks and reserves—the destruction of native habitat and alpine bushland in adjoining Kosciuszko National Park, the destruction of the woodlands and grasslands of the Monaro, the significant loss of our coastal forests and scrub, and, of course, the impact on our own Namadgi National Park and related areas. These will all have implications for our flora and fauna that are not yet fully understood.
I was encouraged to see the Minister for the Environment’s recent reporting of the defence force’s collaboration with ACT parks and conservation regarding the corroboree frog, and trust that over the coming months all levels of government will continue to work together on similar programs. I trust that all levels of government will also consult and work with our traditional custodians as we take the lessons in Indigenous land management, both in recovery but also in thinking ahead to further hazard reduction for the future.
Our community has been significantly impacted in multiple ways throughout this crisis. One unexpected but serious impact has been the smoke pall that has frequently settled on our city. As we started to experience poor air quality and high levels of smoke in early December, Canberrans were forced to start making changes to their daily lives they had not previously had to contemplate. As outdoor activities were curtailed, even our homes, office buildings, shopping centres and movie theatres were impacted due to the severity of smoke and compromised air quality.
This was extremely disruptive to people’s lives. There are many issues that stem from this, and I will talk more about them in my motion on Thursday. For now, I want to acknowledge that the events of the summer have had impacts on people’s mental health and wellbeing, with many feeling frustrated, upset and disheartened. These feelings were only heightened as the Christmas and new year period rolled in and the bushfires increased dramatically in neighbouring parts of New South Wales and around the country. It was an eerie and difficult time of seeking updates via television, radio and the various apps that we all now have on our phones.
Many of us acknowledge, understand and feel strongly that climate change has contributed to the early fire seasons and the length and severity of the fires. This growing concern about the changes in our environment due to climate change are manifested in a sense of climate change anxiety and grief, and this takes a toll on the mental health of some people. I think it would be accurate to say that across the nation there has been a shared sadness over this period. We tragically saw the loss of wildlife, ecosystems, homes and human life in what can only be described as a large-scale catastrophe. As we look for hope and positives in all of this, one can only be inspired by the resilience and determination demonstrated by so many in our community through these difficult times. We have come together through our shared grief and we have supported one another. These are the times where having a strong community and looking out for one another is so incredibly powerful and important.
As the minister with responsibility for both mental health and climate change, I realise that the confluence of these two issues and the inevitable impact it has on people’s
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