Independent MP Zali Steggall pushes forward with private bill on climate change

Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall is drawing up a private bill on climate change to put before parliament.

Independent Member for Warringah Zali Steggall. Picture: AAP

Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall, who trumped Tony Abbott for the seat in the last federal election, is drawing up a private bill on climate change to put before parliament.

Late last year Ms Steggall signalled her plans to put forward a comprehensive private member’s Climate Change Bill in early 2020.

In a Facebook post Ms Steggall confirmed her intention to put the bill forward, saying the bushfire crisis demonstrates why a motion to change in Australia’s climate policy is needed.

“If this wasn’t a national emergency, what would it take to become a national emergency?” Ms Steggall told the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

Ms Steggall says that the bill will be modelled on the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act which set out a legislative framework to transition the United Kingdom to a low-carbon economy.

“The UK passed the Climate Change bill in 2008, then amended last year to lock in Net zero by 2050. It all started from a private member’s bill,” she posted on Facebook.

The key features of the bill will be to provide a Climate Risk Assessment scheme for all major sectors of the economy such as health, agriculture, energy and transport.

“A comprehensive framework law is an essential tool for co-ordinating adaptation of all sectors to warming climates and increase resilience,” said Ms Steggall.

Economy-wide, multi-year targets would be established for a path towards emissions reductions, as would a Climate Change Commission designed to provide scientific advice on long-term objectives and policy.

“A strong independent body is critically important to ensure consistent policy delivery and evidence based decision-making,” said Ms Steggall.

“All of this is desperately needed in Australia. We need a plan.”

“It is not OK to say you believe in climate change action if you are going to follow up with ‘and the Morrison government is doing enough’. It isn’t. And people know it.”

Ms Steggall has previously stated that she supports an emissions reduction target higher than the one Labor took to the 2019 federal election, which called for an emissions reduction target for electricity of 45 per cent by 2030.