The findings of the latest CSIRO and BOM report, which show Australia will be disproportionately hit by the worst effects of climate change, are almost identical to findings from their 2006 report on the same topic. What’s new is that we’ve had eight years – eight years! – to take these dire warnings on board, and have taken serious steps backwards instead.



These reports by the CSIRO and BOM do not come cheaply. Presumably dozens of Australia’s top minds spent a significant amount of time diligently researching and writing them. What is the point of investing in research our government then ignores, and that leads, sadly, to the vilification of our scientists when they draw the obvious conclusion that we need to act now to reduce our fossil fuel reliance?

It must be a singularly frustrating experience to be a climate scientist in Australia. UC Professor of Health and IPCC report contributor Colin Butler even resorted to chaining himself to a coal processing plant, in an attempt to make his message heard (his protest was largely ignored until Rugby Captain David Pocock joined the fray a week later).

Far more revealing than the report itself is our politicians’ reaction to it. You would expect that the news that Australia is on track for a 5 degree rise in temperature – which would damage our Great Barrier Reef and all but destroy our agricultural and fishing industries – should be met with some degree of concern. Yet our politicians and opinion leaders have instead been preoccupied with the question of whether or not one can legitimately knight a prince.

The situation underscores the growing disconnect between the rapid action urged by our scientists and the sad lack of political leadership on the issue. Yet we cannot just blame our leaders for the lack of action on climate change – politicians are driven by what they deem is important to their voters. Despite its long and protracted death, the carbon tax was abolished with barely a peep of real opposition from Australian voters, showing where our priorities as a nation really lie.

As a nation we have run out of excuses for inaction. We know exactly what needs to be done and what will happen if we don’t do it. We know for a fact that we need to drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and rapidly move to renewable energy. We also know that failure to act decisively in the next few years will result in more poverty, disease and pollution for future generations.

So, what are we going to do about it? Queenslanders, and later this year New South Welshmen, will be given the opportunity to put their priorities to the test. Queensland’s state election will provide the perfect opportunity for Queenslanders to show that they value a sustainable future over the short-sighted and severely overstated benefits of the Galilee Basin coal mine development.

If there is a significant vote against this monster development – which will double Australia’s coal exports and triple our annual carbon emissions, not to mention threatening the Great Barrier Reef – it will send a clear message: Australians do care what happens in the future. A federal election is not far behind.