13 December 2006
Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts
The very real consequences of climate change are being felt right now, from Far North Queensland to the south west of Western Australia.
Australia is crying out for resolute action on climate change from the Howard Government, yet all the Prime Minister does is establish another task force.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has forecast sea level rises of between 9 cm and 88 cm between 1990 and 2100, with profound impacts on Western Australia’s coastal communities.
The Australian Government’s Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability report suggests a number of major risks from climate change for south west Western Australia, including:
- A drop in rainfall of 20 per cent;
- Increased severity of drought and flooding;
- Less productive agricultural industries, particularly in the beef and cropping sectors; and,
- Further decreases in biodiversity.
The possible threats to Western Australia’s coastline are significant. The CSIRO has predicted that “for every one centimetre of sea rise, you get one metre of coastal erosion”.
Australia’s precious Ningaloo Reef is threatened with the same fate as the Great Barrier Reef – destruction by coral bleaching – which would be a disaster for the local economy and our natural heritage.
The Prime Minister and Environment Minister are rowing against the tide of scientific evidence and public opinion.
Contact: Kate Pasterfield, 0439 852 118