Australia’s health community will gather at the doors of the ALP National Conference today to “speak out” to an unanswered call to fund the implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy and Climate Safety Plan. Supported by the hundred strong membership of the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), health leaders are calling for essential investment to prepare health system resilience, decarbonise healthcare and prioritise health in all policies and to avoid the growing impacts and costs of climate disasters.
- WHAT: Speak Out For Climate & Health
- WHEN: 12:15pm, Thursday 23 July 2026
- WHERE: Main entrance Adelaide Convention Centre
CAHA CEO Michelle Isles says rank and file members and ALP leaders focused on health impacts from climate change encouraged a health presence at the conference. “ALP members, tuned into their communities, are hearing the call to resource health services and communities to prepare for a higher frequency of climate events from extreme heat, floods and storms that are driving premature death, chronic illness and mental health impacts”.
“The ALP has an opportunity and responsibility to follow through to avoid further cost to health and the economy. Without sustained investment in adaptation, severe health impacts will be felt and economic costs of climate change will rise sharply. For every $1 not invested now to build resilience and preparedness, up to $10 is needed for response and recovery”.
By investing now in Climate Safety, Labor will send a message that:
- Australian’s health is prioritised in our changing climate
- Our health system will be better able to cope
- Smart investment now saves up to 10x times in costs later
- Australians will see better health outcomes
- Other policy areas will see positive co-benefits from investment in our health
CAHA worked with the ANMF, UTS and the ACTU to cost implementation in the Climate Safety Plan. The results are clear that investment now dwindles in comparison to the costs that will blow out due to response to more severe climate disasters.
“Communities and health workers are feeling the impacts of climate change now, they need the ALP to deliver on their commitments. The health community is here to support decisive action and investment,” said Isles.
ENDS
Contact details:
Michelle Isles
+61 402 062 071
