Us or the polluters? Community members in Parliament test government on who takes priority on Safeguard

Community members who are flood and fire survivors, doctors, parents and voters from marginal electorates are part of a delegation headed to Parliament today to remind MPs what the Safeguard Mechanism is all about: Tackling climate change and protecting communities from worsening impacts.

The Australian public is watching the Safeguard Mechanism reform process closely to see whether the government puts the Australian community ahead of the profits of our country’s biggest polluters.

Will Potter’s community has flooded four times in three years.

“We’ve stepped up for our lives, our neighbours and our homes, and now we’re looking to the Albanese Government to show leadership too.

“Who is the Prime Minister and the Climate Minister going to side with - the community or the fossil fuel polluters?” Mr Potter said.

Delegates will be pushing for the Safeguard Mechanism reform to do more to limit new coal and gas development, and to directly limit polluters’ emissions and not rely on access to so-called carbon offsets.

Anna Langford works with communities through Friends of the Earth Melbourne.

“People are frustrated that the big fossil fuel companies are getting another get out of jail free card by dodging their responsibility to reduce emissions.

“Pollution from fossil fuel companies represents about 40% of the emissions in the Safeguard Mechanism, and yet these companies want to keep pumping that pollution into the air and using offsets to cover their steps,” she said.

Delegates represent Australian Parents for Climate Action, Doctors for the Environment, Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Jewish Climate Network, Friends of the Earth Melbourne, People’s Climate Assembly, Queensland Conservation Council and local action groups and voters in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They are supported by Solutions for Climate Australia, the federal advocacy project of Climate Action Network Australia.

Solutions for Climate Australia’s outreach manager Leigh Ewbank says the community campaign for better climate policy will continue to call on the Albanese Government to prioritise our community over fossil fuel companies’ profits.

“Will Labor side with the community and ensure Australia’s fossil fuel polluters pull their weight on climate?

“The community is watching and will be ready to take next steps,” he said.