Skip navigation

Greens give notice of climate change act in both Houses of NSW Parliament

profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
24 August 2023

24 August 2023 - In both Houses of NSW Parliament today, the Greens will give notice of a bill for a Climate Change Act that will legislate a 2035 net zero target and establish a Net Zero Commission to guide and monitor the State’s progress toward the target. The move comes after it was revealed this week that a review commissioned by the NSW Government and prepared by former Energy Retailers Association CEO Cameron O’Reilly recommended the lifetime of Eraring Power Station be extended. This follows months of global temperatures breaching records across the globe and extreme weather events decimating the Northern Hemisphere. 

Greens MP and spokesperson for climate change Sue Higginson said: “It is unequivocal that we must take rapid, urgent action to decarbonise and achieve a net zero target. The science says this must be achieved by 2040 at the absolute latest, with a better target of 2035. Extending the life of polluting infrastructure like Eraring is incompatible with achieving this target. 

 

“A Climate Change Act will create a legal requirement for NSW to move toward the only net zero target that will ensure we keep our planet liveable. The need for urgent and radical action on climate has been emphasised more than ever in recent weeks but we are yet to see this being taken by the Government here in NSW. This action is non-negotiable. 

 

“What we have seen in recent months in Europe, Hawaii, North Africa, South Asia and Antartica is frightening, we must do everything we can to move rapidly toward a net zero target. Prolonging the life of our coal fired power stations, subsidised by the people of NSW to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, is exactly what we shouldn’t do. 

 

“The Greens have introduced these bills in both Houses of Parliament because we need to get on with the job and we need to get it right. It’s an urgent matter, we can’t and we won’t wait for this Government.” Ms Higginson said. 

 

Greens member for Balmain Kobi Shetty, who gave notice of the bill in the Lower House said: “The people of NSW are desperate to see the government take decisive action to tackle the climate crisis, and yet we have seen very little happening over the last 5 months. Fires are burning across the globe and people in NSW are fearful of the summer season ahead of us.

 

“The climate crisis is here. It is time decisions are made in the interests of people and the planet, and not fossil fuel corporations. The NSW government is failing to do what’s needed to ensure we move rapidly toward a net zero target. We have called on the Government to bring in the legislation it committed to during the election campaign as a matter of priority, but we have not seen that happen.

 

“The Greens are committed to doing everything we can to ensure a safe climate for the future.” Ms Shetty said. 

profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
24 August 2023
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

Forestry Corporation caught out changing sustainability report

The NSW Forestry Corporation has been discovered amending three years of sustainability reports, dramatically reducing the reported yield from native forest logging since 2021. The changed data forms part of legally required reports by the State Owned Forestry Corporation and represents a 28% decline in reported yield across NSW. The...

80% of young people refused bail is a poor test for reducing crime

The Minns Labor Government has announced that temporary youth bail law changes will be extended from 12 months to 4 years, with data showing 80% of young people charged with certain offences have been refused bail since March last year. The youth bail law changes were opposed by civil society...

Police chase teenagers into wave of Critical Incidents in Northern NSW

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has today declared it is monitoring a second Critical Incident following the police pursuit of multiple minors. Both pursuits, which occurred on 25 January in Casino and 28 January in Gunnedah, involved the police pursuit of stolen vehicles by minors. In Casino, a 13-year-old boy...

Filming an employee's genitals "unprofessional" but not "criminal", NSW Police

A NSW Police sergeant received only a warning and a transfer to another command after filming a colleague's genitals and posting the footage to a group chat in November 2023. A complaint of serious bullying and misconduct was made to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) who referred the complaint...


CAMPAIGNS