12 December 2006
Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts
North Queensland is already experiencing the very real consequences of climate change, with coral bleaching and warmer ocean temperatures. Ten years of inaction on climate change by the Howard Government is jeopardising our critical tourism and agriculture sectors.
Cyclone Larry was a window into the future. Climate change will bring more severe cyclones and storm surges to North Queensland.
The recent State of the Environment Report 2006 found ocean temperatures have already increased 0.28˚C since 1950, threatening the future of the Great Barrier Reef.
Unchecked, likely impacts due to climate change include:
- The destruction of the Great Barrier Reef’s tourism industry, which directly employs 200,000 people and generates around $4.3 billion;
- More severe cyclones and higher incidence of flooding from king tides and storm surges, with some developed areas at risk of inundation; and,
- An increase in the cattle tick population, potentially costing between $ 18 million and $ 192 million nationally, with most of these increased costs sustained within Queensland.
It’s clear that action is needed right now.
The announcement of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading, described by the National Farmers’ Federation as “short-sighted”, is a delaying tactic. We need action, not committees. We need to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and establish a national emissions trading scheme.
Townsville is a flagship ‘Solar City’, yet under the Howard Government Australia’s share of the world’s solar energy market has fallen from 10% to 2%, confirming this government is not serious about renewable energy.
Like the bizarre suggestion of Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey to drape parts of the Great Barrier Reef with shade cloth, the Howard Government continues to run for cover on climate change while the people of North Queensland remain in the line of fire.
A Rudd Labor Government will take responsibility for taking real action on climate change.
Contact: Kate Pasterfield, 0439 852 118