Greens pledge more for climate control

ACTION on climate change, furthering the push for an Aboriginal voice in Parliament, and a riposte to Opposition Leader Rebcca White were the key themes of the Greens’ State of the State reply speech in Parliament on Wednesday.

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said meaningful responses to climate change were needed to protect Tasmania’s brand.

“It is the clean, green, wilderness brand that underpins the successes of our agricultural sector, our exporters and our tourism industry,’’ she said.

Ms O’Connor said Premier Peter Gutwein and Ms White did not understand the “seriousness of the climate emergency that we are in”.

“It is a matter of regret that we have not heard from either the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition about what their plans are to help Tasmania adapt to this rapidly changing climate,’’ she said.

“We have to acknowledge that the climate is changing rapidly, and this will impact on every aspect of the lives of Tasmanians.”

Ms O’Connor said the Greens would introduce to Parliament a Safe Climate Bill in 2020. She said this would establish a safe climate commission to provide advocacy and advice to the government and community for actions on climate change.

It would also establish emissions-reduction targets for sectors, and require the government of the day to establish policies to meet the targets.

Ms O’Connor also said an inquiry report into the House of Assembly Restoration Bill made a clear recommendation that a joint house committee be established to develop a model for Aboriginal representation in the Parliament.

“It is not about us, it is about the First People of Tasmania, and the fact that they are not represented as a people in the Tasmanian Parliament.’’