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Climate change hearings set the stage for future legislation
Public hearings into climate change legislation will come to a close soon after setting the stage for a new independent body to manage and enforce relevant laws.
Naomi Neilson
Two bills proposed by Zali Steggall MP that aims to introduce a long-term target of net-zero emissions by 2025 and establish an independent climate change commission has been open for public commentary following over 6,500 submissions.
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Mr Steggall hopes that the committee will recommend new legislation and urge Australia – and the Morrison government – to follow in the footsteps of other nations.
“The world is heading to net zero by 2050 led by US president Joe Biden. It’s time Prime Minister Scott Morrison sets Australia on the right path,” Mr Steggall told media. “Dragging this out and delaying significant emissions reduction will only cost more and increase risks to our communities.”
The chair of the House of Representatives standing committee on the environment and energy, Tim O'Brien, said he was looking forward to hearing the views “of a range of interested parties” and addressed the high level of interest in the inquiry.
“We have recently managed inquiries into nuclear energy, bushfires, Scope 3 emissions and feral cats, and so the committee is well placed now to deliberate on the proposed climate change bills,” Mr O'Brien said.
“As a committee, we’ll do what we always do. We won’t draw any conclusions prematurely, but rather assess the information with dispassionate independence.”
