Environment Discussions in the Senate (29/10/2025)

During the Senate proceedings on 29 October 2025, significant discussions centered around climate change and environmental issues, particularly the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2025.

Bill Highlights and Support

• Senator David Pocock introduced the Climate Change Amendment Bill during the second reading, emphasizing its intent to create a legal duty of care to protect children and future generations from climate-related harm (Page 1). He referenced previous court cases involving young climate activists, underlining the urgency of legislative action amidst growing climate challenges.
• Senator Pocock mentioned broad public support for the bill and the necessity to acknowledge the duty to protect future generations as climate crises become increasingly severe (Page 1).
• Support from Other Senators:
• Senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah endorsed the bill, recognizing the tireless efforts of climate activists (Page 3).
• Senator Steph Hodgins-May reiterated the imperative of considering children’s welfare in climate-related legislative actions (Page 5).
• Senator Fatima Payman commended young advocates, specifically mentioning Anjali Sharma, for their significant roles in pushing for climate policy reforms (Page 6).

Opposition Concerns

• Several opposition senators voiced critiques regarding the government’s actual track record on climate initiatives, pointing out delays in implementing decisive action against fossil fuel dependency. They contended that the government’s stated climate ambitions are not reflected in its actions (Pages 6-8).

Outcome of the Climate Bill

• Following extensive debate, proposed amendments to the Climate Change Amendment Bill were ultimately not passed. This outcome underscored significant divisions regarding climate policy and the recognized necessity for change within the government (Page 9).

Youth Advocacy and Environmental Protection

• Senator Mehreen Faruqi presented a speech from a young climate activist named Parmida, highlighting the urgent need for government action to halt fossil fuel projects and promote climate science education. The speech emphasized the responsibility to foster a sustainable future for younger generations (Page 39).
• Senator Peter Whish-Wilson criticized the government’s shark net policies, advocating for marine life protection and calling for a review of practices that contribute to the unnecessary deaths of endangered species (Page 104).

The discussions revealed a strong commitment from certain senators to address climate change and protect future generations, while also highlighting the substantial concerns regarding government actions and accountability on environmental issues.