Ms BADGER (Lyons) – Honourable Speaker, this is a curious amendment to be proposing based on the vibe of the Greens’ argument, when it was the minister that incited that, for lack of a better word, ‘debate’. To remove both parts of clause (1) is of great concern. It neglects the seriousness of the environmental challenges we are facing right around the world. This is not just a silo here in Tasmania, but Tasmania has a global responsibility to do what it can for the environment. That information is contained in the State of the Environment report, which we have to see. We all have a right to see it.
Paragraph 1(b) reads:
environmental impacts create great significant community concern and anxiety, pose substantial public and economic costs, and add uncertainty to industry and development.
They do. If the Labor Party stands for development, this clause has to stay in the motion. Industry is totally affected by the environment. Whether you agree with it or not, the changing climate and everything that is happening to our environment affects all the industries that operate here in Tasmania, whether that is forestry in whatever capacity you are standing for, fish farming, including oyster farming and the salmon farms. They are all affected by this. For the Labor Party to propose taking that out is unusual. It is important that this parliament acknowledges the anxiety being caused by environmental impacts, be that to industry, but most importantly to the young people who put their faith in this parliament to look after the environment properly. The science says that climate anxiety is a thing and it is disproportionately affecting the young people that are inheriting the climate crisis. This motion also acknowledges that. We have a duty of care here to acknowledge it.
