With a super El Nino set to hit Tasmania this summer, but no formal statewide climate adaptation plan in place, the Greens asked the Minister for Climate Change to outline his government’s plans to keep the community safe. The Minister’s response was a shocking revelation that he sees nothing urgent to respond to. It’s a grim day when the Minister for Climate is promoting climate denialism.
The BOM is now predicting a hot and dry summer for Tasmania, from an El Nino expected to surpass all records. Tasmanians and the environment are at high risk from bushfires and ocean warming.
Confronting such a threat, any responsible government would be urgently amassing extra resources and working with local governments to improve prevention and response actions. This is the dedicated adaptation focus the Independent Review of the Climate Change Act recommended, but the Liberals have put meaningful climate action on the back burner.
Minister Barnett instead urged Tasmanians to “shake the hand of a Hydro worker”, and denied any additional work was needed to prepare our state for the upcoming summer. What a crock. Speak to any TFS or SES volunteer, and local council worker, or any community organisation member. They all understand the desperate need for more resourcing and focus on helping communities stay safe.
In the face of this massive imminent threat, business-as-usual doesn’t cut it. The Greens in Private Member’s Time today will call on the Government to make the preparations the community and environment desperately needs before the coming hot and dry summer.
