In the media
A climate of secrecy “not an option” when it comes to climate policy
Media release, 18 November 2024
With the Prime Minister confirming his government has no intention of releasing Labor’s 2035 emissions reduction target prior to the next election, this government - which promised transparency and ambition during the 2022 election - is creating a climate of secrecy when it comes to Australia’s climate policies.
Australians deserve better from a Prime Minister who committed to doing politics differently when elected.
Love them or hate them, at least Australians know where we stand with the Opposition - with Peter Dutton confirming he is committed to taking us backwards if elected. The Coalition have said they will walk back Australia’s 2030 target and have not outlined any policies beyond that which will get us remotely close to achieving net zero by 2050.
While the Coalition will delay the roll out of renewables by chasing a nuclear fantasy which will hurt our economy, jack up electricity bills and extend the life of fossil fuels – at least they have been transparent with their climate denial.
With the CSIRO’s State of the Climate Report showing Australia’s landmass has already warmed by 1.5C, we can’t waste any more time with leaders who are too timid to take our country forward and embrace not only the climate, but the economic upside of being an ambitious early mover.
Australians should know exactly what they are voting for at the next election when it comes to climate policies. Committing to announcing 2035 targets “sometime next year” is political cowardice from Labor.
In the last week we’ve seen the UK show global leadership by announcing an ambitious 81% 2035 emission reduction target, while our Pacific neighbours have called out Australia as a bad actor that “is exporting climate destruction overseas”.
With a decision on whether Australia will host COP31 expected this week, a lack of progressive future-focused climate policies means Australia could become yet another regressive petrostate to host the UN climate talks.
Labor cannot hide behind Donald Trump when it comes to climate action. Australian voters deserve to know if they are voting for a party in 2025 that is condemning future generations to a dangerous and less prosperous future.
Other relevant posts
Calls to change small business definition
ABC The World Today, 5 December 2024
Kylea is interviewed about her crossbench push to change the definition of a small business from the current maximum of 15 employees, to include those enterprises with up to 25 workers. The Federal Government has foreshadowed potentially revisiting the issue in the second half of next year.
Teal MPs push for changes to 'small business' definition as election looms
ABC News, 5 December 2024
Kylea and seven other crossbench colleagues have called on the Government to change the definition of "small business" from organisations of up to 15 employees, to up to 25, to help smaller businesses comply with new Fair Work laws.
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher sees red over teals, but look deeper and there's more at play
ABC News, 4 December 2024
The May 2022 rise of community independent parliamentarians is "a straightforward [story] of constituency neglect, which almost always drives the emergence of fringe or third-party groupings in this country", Annabel Crabb writes in ABC News.
Coalition dares to dream about Peter Dutton as PM
Daily Telegraph, 30 November 2024
Liberal strategists are charting a path to a 2025 election victory, but "already, Teal seats in Sydney have largely been written off", according to this News Corp interview with a Liberal MP.
Independent raises alarm on social media ban
ABC Radio National, 29 November 2024
Despite growing ranks opposing the bill, a ban on social media for under 16s passed the Senate late on the final sitting day of the year. In a radio interview about the ban, Kylea warns that the Bill "doesn't do what it says on the tin".
Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?
New York Times, 29 November 2024
The New York Times covers Australia's new social media law, noting that how the restriction will be enforced online remains an open question. Kylea has said that law would stop short of holding social media companies accountable for the safety of the product they are providing. “They are not fixing the potholes; they are just telling our kids there won’t be any cars,” she is quoted as saying.
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