On 15 August 2024, I spoke about new research into the scale of global harm caused by Australia’s fossil fuel exports. 

According to a new study commissioned by the University of New South Wales Australian Human Rights Institute, Australia's coal and gas exports cause more climate damage than those from any other country bar Russia.

We've even overtaken the United States because coal is so emissions intensive. This flies in the face of a number of international commitments this government has made to transition away from fossil fuels. Let's be clear, this is part of a deliberate strategy to see our exports soar, which will account for billions of tons in new emissions, completely inconsistent with achieving net zero and totally out of touch with the science. The emissions from our exports are forecast to increase by a whopping 50 per cent by 2035. It's absolute lunacy to continue on this path when Australia is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

So much talk about domestic emissions targets, but nothing about our exports.

The resources minister recently announced the government would award nine new permits to exploit gas reserves in Australia, and yet only 19 per cent of gas fracked in Australia is actually used within our country. People are paying extortionate energy bills and for what? So that huge fossil fuel companies can send their profits from these climate damaging resources overseas. It's completely at odds with the Net Zero Roadmap and shows the Labor Party is not serious about addressing the climate crisis.

Australia's fossil fuel exports in 2023 were likely to lead to 1.15 billion tons of CO2, almost three times the amount omitted in the country.

It is shortsighted, it is unsustainable and it will lead to more disasters, more homes becoming uninsurable and higher bills.

We export 91 per cent of our coal and about three-quarters of our gas, and this government has absolutely no plan for how to get us off of this train. We need an off-ramp and a plan for an economy beyond coal and gas. I can't believe I have to say this out loud in this place, but the safety of our planet and environment is more important than a sugar hit for fossil fuel companies.