Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.57 a.m.]
The independent review of the climate change act calls for an urgent course correction on how your government responds to climate change. It’s what the Greens and community groups have been saying should happen for a long time. The review recommends returning the independent climate body that you axed more than a decade ago to increase accountability of government. It also calls for setting sector emission targets so the state’s carbon emissions actually come down.
Tasmanians are already facing extreme climate impacts. Local governments and communities need more support and guidance. The report supports the widespread call for your government to lead on adaptation planning and to put climate change into all government decision making. Premier, Tasmanians desperately want leadership and action on the climate crisis. Will you act urgently on those recommendations from the review report?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. The matter of climate change we take very seriously. When it comes to the accountabilities of industry, we have improved that accountability enormously over the last decade. When it comes to, as often spoken of in this House, the salmon industry, for example, it is unrecognisable, the level of accountability we now have in the industry, and compliance and regulation, than it was under a Labor-Greens government: unrecognisable. We’ve done that through continuous improvement, of course. I recognise the effects of climate change and how industry needs to adapt to that. I had a very good briefing the other day in southern Tasmania with a professor of IMAS, Scott, his name was. A great briefing about the giant kelp and the fact that Tasmania’s waters are warming four times more than the globe. That is serious stuff. We’ve lost 95 per cent of our –
Dr WOODRUFF – 45, relevance. I asked the Premier whether he will act urgently on the recommendations from the report. We know the situation is dire. We desperately know that. It’s about action.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Dr Woodruff. I also remind members that if you ask a question that has an argument, opinion, inferences, preambles, that actually is against Standing Order 44; but if people ask a question containing that, then under Standing Order 45, ministers and the Premier are allowed a bit more latitude. As long as they’re being relevant to the relevant policy area, according to the House of Representative Practice 7th Edition, page 567, then the answer is relevant. I will bring the Premier back to the question, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you. Look, Tasmania has a legislated emissions reduction target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions or lower from 30 June 2030 and there should be no doubt that we are taking action and making progress. In fact, Tasmania’s net emissions in 2023 were 4.93 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is a 125.2 per cent decrease
Dr WOODRUFF – Thanks to our forests that you continue to log and burn.
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, this is your first warning.
Mr ROCKLIFF – from the 1990 baseline level of 19.55 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
I am advise that our comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan has a dedicated estimated total of more than $250 million across government. The action plan was informed by a thorough process of consultation with state and local government, business, industry, non government organisations and the community. We are finalising 98 practical cross government projects that improve information and knowledge about climate change, reduce emissions and build resilience.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – I wasn’t sure from the Premier’s response just then when he said they were finalising actions whether they’re the recommendations from this review: Returning to the question, Premier, can you please tell us when you will be acting on the recommendations and will you commit to making the changes to the act by the end of this year?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I outlined some of the areas when it comes to the review’s findings and recommendations. We’re going to continue to strengthen our action on climate change through existing legislated activities and policy frameworks, and I detailed those in a previous answer. The range of areas I was about to speak of in terms of the plan includes delivering projects from six sector based emissions reduction resilience plans and the statewide climate change risk assessment which was released in 2024, and 98 practical cross-government projects that improve information and knowledge about climate change, reduce emissions and build resilience to the changing climate, which I’ve acknowledged.
