Climate warrior MPs take a risk on beach homes

MPs pushing for climate change action have bought investment properties in coastal communities that would be devastated by dramatic sea level rises. See who’s on the list.

EXCLUSIVE

Politicians pushing for drastic action on climate change have purchased investment properties in coastal communities that would be devastated by dramatic sea level rises, it can be revealed.

An investigation by this masthead has found teal independent Allegra Spender has at least three homes in at-risk waterfront areas of NSW.

Western Sydney MP and senior Labor figure Tony Burke has two – in Tasmania.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen also has a property near the ocean, as does teal Zoe Daniel.

Ms Spender – elected in 2022 for the eastern Sydney seat of Wentworth – owns two ground-floor apartments opposite the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia at Darling Point.

Allegra Spender Independent Member for Wentworth addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Allegra Spender's Darling Point property

It’s likely that man-made protection would be put in place to prevent this area from inundation.

That is not probable for the other investment property owned by Ms Spender, who wants a 50 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

She has a single-storey weekender within 300 metres of the sand at Great Mackerel Beach, a hamlet accessible only by water via Palm Beach in Sydney’s north. The house was purchased for $1.8 million on the weekend after the last federal election.

Allegra Spender's Great Mackerel Beach property.

According to the NSW government, sea levels on that part of the state’s coast are likely to rise by between 0.21 and 1.06 metres by 2100.

“These projections do not include processes associated with the melting of ice sheets which for NSW could result in (a) sea level rise of up to 2.3m by 2100,” the government says.

Ms Spender’s office declined repeated requests for comment.

Home Affairs Minister Mr Burke purchased a house in the Tasmanian seaside village of Primrose Sands in 2021 for $325,000. The property, which has expansive water views, has since been renovated.

Recent mapping by the University of Tasmania forecasts that a key road in Primrose Sands will go under water by 2100.

Pictured at his electoral office at Punchbowl in Sydney is Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for the Arts Tony Burke. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Burke also owns a coastal property at Lymington, south of Hobart. A road in that area is predicted to be engulfed by the turn of the century.

The office of Mr Burke – who held the environment portfolio when Labor was in opposition – did not respond to requests for comment.

Tony Burke's property at Primrose Sands Tasmania.

National Party senator for Queensland Matt Canavan said the property holdings raised questions about whether the politician-owners “believe the underlying science” of global warming.

“You know you’ve met a radical climate activist if they have lots of Frequent Flyer points, own multiple coastal properties and they love nothing more than going out for a lovely nine-marble-score wagyu steak,” Mr Canavan said.

“There are only two options here: either these people think we are all stuffed anyway or they don’t believe the underlying science. I think it’s the latter.

“They are chicken littles, running around telling us the sky is going to fall in but they really don’t expect it to fall in at all,” the senator commented.

Climate Change Minister Mr Bowen has a seaside property at Bawley Point on the NSW south coast. His office did not respond when contacted.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Chris Bowen's property at Bawley Point NSW.

Nor did that of Ms Daniel, who has a holiday home off the Great Ocean Road. The Victorian teal wants a 60 per cent cut in emissions by the end of the decade.

Zoe Daniel. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Zoe Daniel's property in Separation Creek Victoria

Until last month, Greens senator for NSW Mehreen Faruqi owned a home near the water at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast. When asked about the sale, her office hung up.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent $4.3m purchase on the NSW Central Coast has uninterrupted ocean views but is safe from sea level rises as it sits on a clifftop.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

The Copacabana property bought by Anthony Albanese and his fiance Jodi Haydon for $4.3 million.

Nine newspapers have previously reported that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has a waterside property on the Gold Coast. But this is incorrect. It is owned by another person with the same name.

MP Susan Ley at The Daily Telegraph Bush Summit 2022 held at the Griffith Regional Theatre. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Deputy Leader Sussan Ley has an apartment in this Gold Coast tower.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has an apartment in a Gold Coast beach tower. Her office did not respond to requests for comment.

Originally published as Climate warrior MPs take a risk on beach homes