Urgent climate action led by facts, not politics
This is the critical decade for climate action. The decisions made in the next three years will fundamentally affect our children’s and their children’s future.
Kylea has committed to working towards:
- A clear and actionable plan to reduce national emissions guided by experts to achieve at least 60% by 2030.
- Removing the politics from the climate debate by introducing an independent climate change body to develop an evidence-based plan to achieve net zero by 2040.
- Active collaboration with local councils and state government to make the federal seat of North Sydney one of the first Net Zero Urban Energy Zones in Australia, as we transition to a fully electrified community as quickly as possible (target date 2035).
- Improved fuel emission standards and initiatives that increase the rate of adoption of electric vehicles across Australia.
- The gradual and planned removal of subsidies for coal and gas, with no new coal and gas extraction projects.
- Protecting and enhancing our green corridors that are fundamental to the nature of our community and ensuring that any infrastructure projects undertaken in our electorate provide solutions for the next century, including:
- demanding transparency from the Prime Minister on commitments related to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.
- calling for a suspension of any further work until key stakeholders (including local councils and resident groups) are satisfied that all alternatives have been fully explored and concerns addressed and mitigated.
So far, North Sydney has achieved:
- Successful amendment of the Safeguard Mechanism to prevent new or expanding fossil fuel projects from accessing government funding to pursue abatement.
- Introduction of the private members bill, 'Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) Bill 2022', to improve fuel efficiency of cars in Australia and reduce fuel costs.
- Advocacy for a levy on the production and consumption of single use plastic items made from virgin plastic.
- Government assurance there would be no federal funding for the Western Harbour Tunnel or Northern Beaches Link.
- The inaugural Clean Energy Community Fair, with over 30 stalls run by vendors, service providers and councils offering to help households and businesses reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
- Launch of 'Powering to Net Zero Energy', a guide to government incentives to help electrify homes and businesses in North Sydney.
Next Steps:
- Continue to work on vehicles emissions and fuel standards as a first meaningful step to cleaner air.
- Continue working with advocacy groups and businesses on the plastics and recycling industry.
- Advocate for stronger policy action consistent with the Samuels Review of the EPBC Act.
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
Tink pushes right of appeal on federal environmental decisions
North Sydney Sun, 21 April 2024
Kylea has pushed to enshrine the public’s right to appeal federal environmental decisions with the launch of a new report, commissioned by Lock the Gate Alliance and written by Professor Kim Rubenstein and Associate Professor Joel Townsend, in Parliament House.
Labor’s broken promise on environment protection laws
The Saturday Paper, 20 April 2024
In an op-ed for the Saturday Paper, Kylea criticises the government's new "staged approach" to its once-in-a-generation overhaul of the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act, noting that more complex, necessary and contentious elements of the Government's original plan have been relegated to a “third stage” with no set date for their introduction to parliament.
Joint letter to Minister Plibersek re: Environmental reforms
Kylea has signed a joint letter to Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, urging the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of delivering a complete package of environmental reforms during this parliamentary term. The letter comes amid reports that the government is considering delaying and splitting the package of reforms.
Change of national enviro law put off, as Dutton warns of 'death of mining'
Canberra Times, 16 April 2024
The Albanese government's long-awaited response to the Samuel Review has been criticised from two sides, with Peter Dutton saying it will be the "death of mining" while others, including Kylea, are urging Labor to go further and faster to protect nature.
Few avenues for appeal as polluting projects go ahead
The West Australian, 16 April 2024
Merits review rights could give communities a chance to challenge large, destructive projects like Whitehaven Coal's Vickery Extension Project, but currently only apply to an extremely limited number of situations under federal environmental law. This is an opportunity for the federal government to do better, Kylea says.
New Environmental Protection Agency ineffective without stronger laws
SBS News, 16 April 2024
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish Australia's first independent Environmental Protection Agency, but "without national environmental protection laws in place, having an EPA is the equivalent of having a chassis of a car without the engine," Kylea says. "It might look good, but it's not going to get us anywhere."