CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS: Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy

04 February 2021


I would like to congratulate the new shadow minister for climate change and energy, the member for McMahon. In his first week he has proposed a jobs and emissions compact to urgently tackle climate change and create thousands of decent jobs. Labor knows that the science is clear: our planet and its environment will not survive if the climate emergency continues its current trajectory. Recent reports have again made this very clear.

The member for McMahon has said that the world is changing, and this means that many communities, especially those that rely on carbon-intensive industries and exports, will come under pressure. There needs to be investment in these people, their regions and their communities, leaving no workers behind. It's a once-in-a-generation economy-wide reform and we, Labor, are the only party who is up to this enormous task, who is ready to take it on.

Climate change is the No. 1 issue for my constituents in Cooper. I know that, and they let me know that very, very clearly. I'm looking forward to welcoming the member for McMahon to Cooper so he can hear firsthand from my community, from our community, how we can work together on Labor's plan to tackle the climate emergency and make sure that all communities actually benefit from the changes to come.