24th of October 2024
With election day approaching, climate action is top of mind for many Queenslanders as they head to the ballot box on Saturday.
From unnatural disasters, damage to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the potential for a booming renewable energy industry in the state, no one is unaffected by the importance of action on climate.
Below are a range of quotes from farmers, parents, tenants, reef researchers and first time voters - please call 0447 121 378 or email sean.kennedy@climatemediacentre.org.au with interview requests.
QUEENSLANDERS
Farmer, Owen Allen
Location – Innisfail
“As a North Queensland coastal farmer, I understand the state's agriculture sector can increase its capacity as a food bowl for Australia and international buyers, while also improving the ability of our farms to sequester carbon and support robust ecosystems – but this has to come with the right policy framework from the government.
“We need to ensure all farmers have access to training and mentoring in techniques to manage their land specific to their regional climates, with incentives for farmers to increase carbon sequestration capacity, as well as managing other ecosystems features like waterways and wildlife corridors.
“Every industry needs to accelerate its transition to clean energy, and farmers need capital support via government schemes to install adequate renewable energy facilities with sales to the grid capacity. I would like to see the next Queensland Government establish an agricultural climate change program with these sorts of aims in mind, because with better land management and the integration of renewable energy, Queensland farms will be able to better assist with reducing climate pollution, while also improving our ability to feed the nation and our neighbours.”
Reef researcher, Professor Scott Heron
Location – Townsville
“As a coral reef scientist working specifically on climate change impacts, and a Townsville local, I'm particularly concerned about policies relating to climate change. With five mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef in the past nine summers, we need to have coherent policies and plans to reduce the Greenhouse gas emissions that are the primary cause of climate change.
“I've seen the impacts on the environment first-hand and I'm also very aware of the effects these can have for people and businesses. While I know there are other key issues being spoken about during this election campaign, further climate change will only exacerbate issues like cost-of-living. That's why climate change is a primary issue for me when deciding my vote."
Parent of three, Peta Johansen
Location – Hervey Bay
“What I find particularly frustrating is that our region, in particular, has a lot to lose in ecotourism if issues like coral bleaching aren't addressed. But despite that, climate action seems to be absent from much of the political discourse.”
“The larger portion of people are concerned with climate action, whether they perceive that renewable energy is not being rolled out fast enough, or they feel the bite of power prices as they rely more heavily on air-conditioning to cool their homes, or they may be directly impacted by the extreme weather events which are becoming more frequent and intense in a warming climate.”
“It is with my children that I discuss the impacts on our planet. It is an isolating concern, but I stay invested in the hopes there will be action. Long term government policies and broader public education would have huge impacts on my children's future."
University student, Lauren Shead
Location – Brisbane
“Our electricity bill doubled last summer and we can’t afford to run our air con all the time, but this summer looks like it will be even hotter. Renewable energy is cheaper to build than any coal fired power station, it’s cheaper to run, it uses free energy as its source and it doesn’t contribute to further warming up our summers.
“We shouldn’t be using any coal to power our air con. We shouldn’t be using coal power for energy when Queensland is probably the state that will suffer the most from a warmer climate. If the cost of energy doesn’t come down and summers keep getting worse, it will really restrict how much money I have left for enjoying my free time, and I don’t look forward to that kind of summer without air con to manage it.
“If the government could create some policy to make it easy for renters to get solar panels on their roof that would make a huge difference. I can’t afford to buy where I am, but why does that mean that I should miss out on having access to renewable energy?”
Regional QLD tenant, Tracey Adams
Location – Maleny
“I’m very concerned about the impacts of policy changes that could occur after election day – we need a government who will act now to reduce climate pollution and help protect elderly Queenslanders from the increase in severe weather events, particularly heatwaves.
“I represent single older women on lower or moderate incomes who already live in housing that is poor quality, so not well equipped to handle very hot weather and heat waves, because there are no standards in Queensland for all homes to have insulation or ceiling fans or other energy efficiency measures.
“I have been a victim of the heat in my rental, where I have passed out more than once because of the heat during summer. I am scared of what keeping coal fired power stations open will mean for increasing temperatures – I want a state government with policies to phase out this polluting technology and see it replaced with renewable energy generation. Even people in new builds are not safe from heat as the standards are still way too low to handle heatwaves.”
Parent of two and startup founder, Karl Watfern
Location – Townsville
“We moved to Magnetic Island and the Townsville region in 2023 and it was immediately clear how deeply this community values the natural environment – it's impossible not to, living in such a remarkable place.
“As a parent of two young children living in north Queensland I’m deeply concerned that we are not hearing bold plans to tackle the climate crisis and protect our future. The cost of delayed action and vague promises is too great. Our state government needs to step up with clear, strong leadership on reducing emissions, protecting nature and ensuring the safety of our communities from the threat of climate impacts.
“I want my children, and all the children in our community, to inherit a future that is safe, secure, and defined by a thriving natural environment enabled by decisive action on climate change.”
Dive Instructor, Richard Blanch
Location – Cairns
“Although the Reef is still an incredible place to visit, I've seen big changes in my three decades of working on there.
“Having worked on the Reef for 30 years and dived on it for 40, there is absolutely no doubt that climate change is having an impact and putting our reef, our tourism industry and 64,000 Reef jobs at risk.
“As a resident of Machans Beach, I also witnessed the devastation of the Cyclone Jasper floods in December 2023, and the primary thing that will be affecting my vote is who is going to be taking the strongest climate action to protect our community and our reef jobs.”
First time voter, Kailani Clifton
Location – Hervey Bay
“As a young woman voting in a state election for the first time, there are some key issues that stand out for me as a top priority when it comes to choosing our next state government. Protecting a woman’s right to bodily autonomy, managing our current cost of living crisis and positive action on climate change and a continued shift towards renewable energy, away from coal & gas are all significant to me personally and the majority of my peers.
“It is both shameful and concerning to see the latter receive very little focus in the media and from candidates, as it is one of the biggest threats to our future stability, and one that impacts not only every single Queenslander, but every Australian.
“We are already seeing impacts of climate change in Queensland. Where I live in Hervey Bay we have seen our inshore coral reefs bleached this year, the environment where I have grown up is bearing the consequences of inaction."
END
Contact details:
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Sean Kennedy - Senior Media Advisor - Climate Media Centre
m - 0447 121 378 e - sean.kennedy@climatemediacentre.org.au
