Rebekha launches Friends of Climate Change group

22 Jul 2020

Posted November 27, 2018

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has launched the Parliamentary Friends of Climate Action group in a bid to encourage a “non-partisan” approach to climate policy.

Photograph: Today Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie attended Doctors for the Environment's 'No Time for Games' Campaign outside Parliament House. This campaign encourages doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to take action through pledging support for four key recommendations. These recommendations address climate change and health, and particularly the health benefits for children and future generations.

The Centre Alliance MP announced the group yesterday after moving a motion calling upon the Government to take “urgent, genuine and meaningful action” to significantly reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions.

“This week I am launching the Parliamentary Friends of Climate Action to provide a non-partisan forum for Parliamentarians to hear from experts on climate change science and policy. I will continue to do what I can to press the Government to act on climate change,” Rebekha said.

Currently, there are more than 60 parliamentary friendship groups in the 45th parliament. These ‘apolitical’ groups aim to bring MPs and Senators from all sides of politics together for a common cause.

Fellow crossbench MP Dr Kerryn Phelps has agreed to co-chair the Parliamentary Friends of Climate Action with Rebekha.To date, another 27 MPs have also signed up.

“You only have to listen to the Member for Wentworth’s first speech to know taking meaningful action on climate change is just as important to Dr Phelps' electorate as it is for the people of Mayo and indeed the people of Australia,” Rebekha said.

“The greatest policy failure of our current generation in Australian politics is climate change.

“No other policy issue has been plagued by such partisan attacks, and no other policy issue has heralded the repeated fall of Australian prime ministers.

“It is for this reason that I have launched the Friends of Climate Action so that we can use the group to foster progress on climate change policy and action.

“The group will provide a non-partisan forum for Parliamentarians to hear from experts on climate change science and policy so we can find a way forward.”

The group will hold its first event in the New Year.

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