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As scientific authorities confirm the sixth coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in less than a decade, concerned citizens are responding to Federal Coalition leader Peter Dutton’s comment at the ABC’s leaders debate earlier this week.
The opposition leader said he didn’t know if increasing frequency and intensity of weather events was due to climate change.
First Nations peoples, farmers, doctors, climate disaster survivors, divers, and parents are all available for comment.
Aunty McRose Elu is a senior Torres Strait Islander elder and climate activist, Saibai Island and Seisia, Far North Queensland:
“How can you hope to be the leader of our nation if you are not tuned into the most critical issue affecting the lives of people in this Country?
“Peter Dutton has just exposed himself as someone who does not understand the basic climate science and who doesn’t care about the suffering of our communities.
“It is frustrating and upsetting because Queensland has been the centre of multiple unnatural disasters just this year. In the Torres Strait, sea walls have been breached and our islands have flooded. Our Brothers and Sisters in the Northern Rivers are still displaced and rebuilding their homes from the floods years ago. This is climate change.
“How can they be this ignorant?”
Benny Dau, a proud Torres Strait Islander man from the Samu clan who lives on Boigu with his wife and children said:
“Peter Dutton needs to come up to the Torres Strait and see for himself what impacts we as Torres Strait Islanders have to endure year in and year out. The water is at our doorstep. Our families, our homes, our culture and everything we know is at risk.
“Our leaders need to get their heads out of the sand and come and see for themselves first hand what climate change looks like.”
Dr. Yolanda Waters, CEO Divers for Climate:
“You don’t have to be a scientist to know something’s wrong – divers and marine tourism operators see the impacts of climate change every day, from coral bleaching to shifting species to extreme conditions. Right now, we’re witnessing the sixth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef in just nine years – at the same time as bleaching unfolds on Ningaloo Reef. This is not normal. If Peter Dutton wants to understand what’s happening, he should speak to the people who rely on a healthy ocean, or better yet, get in the water and see for himself.”
Location: Townsville, QLD, Wulgurukaba and Bindal land
Ellen Burbidge, Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action:
“In one short answer, Peter Dutton managed to insult disaster survivors by denying the impacts of climate change on us, shame himself by admitting he ‘doesn’t know’ the science, and expose his own party’s questionable commitment to climate action by pointing the finger at China. It’s hard to see how he can lead this country – being this lost on one of the most important issues of our time.
Australia is already burning. We deserve better.”
Location: South Coast NSW, Yuin country
Jo Dodds, President of Bushfire Survivors for Climate:
“Peter Dutton’s claim that he can’t tell whether there is an increase in climate impacts, even in his own region, indicates that he’s not even talking to the people in his own electorate who’ve been directly impacted by climate-fuelled floods and extreme weather impacts.
By refusing to acknowledge the rise in climate-fuelled fires, floods and extreme weather shows he is ignoring their distress and the challenges they’re facing with rebuilding.
“This is extremely insulting to the people of Brisbane and all of the other regions in Queensland who’ve experienced extraordinary flooding in the recent past months around Brisbane and then in inland Queensland.
“It beggars belief that a candidate for Prime Minister of Australia would suggest that he hasn’t noticed what they’re going through and can’t connect those extraordinary and unprecedented events with climate change as a major contributing factor.
“It’s difficult to see how Mr Dutton can lead this country safely through the next three years if he cannot acknowledge what people across this country are facing every day in escalating climate damage.”
Location: South Coast NSW, Yuin country
Kate Coxall, Flood survivor
“I’m not a scientist, but I’m a flood survivor – and my town has experienced back-to-back-to-back flooding, fires and even a tropical cyclone in recent years. These disasters are becoming more frequent and severe as climate pollution goes up, and we’re the ones paying the price.”
Location: Lismore NSW, Bundjalung nation
Peter Holding, farmer and Farmers for Climate Action member:
“I’m not a scientist but I’m absolutely certain the climate is changing and changing rapidly, we expect our leaders to take proper advice from scientists and get on with reducing emissions and developing good policy.”
Location: Harden NSW, Wiradjuri country
Kate Wylie, Doctors for the Environment Executive Director:
“Doctors for the Environment Australia would welcome the opportunity to discuss the human health costs of climate change with the opposition leader. We are treating the impacts of climate pollution, extreme heat and severe weather in our emergency departments and GP clinics now. We are seeing the toll on our communities, the heartbreak and loss.
“As medical professionals we understand the science of global heating and climate change and because communicating about health is a core part of our job, we would be very happy to talk it through with Mr Dutton.”
Location: Adelaide SA, Kaurna country
Nic Seton, Parents for Climate CEO:
“After all the fires, floods and storms we’ve been through, watching any politician avoid the facts of climate change is deeply uncomfortable viewing. Refusing to acknowledge climate change is not a strategy, nor is it any protection for those Australian families who are impacted every year.
“Tackling climate change is a definitive leadership issue and the majority of Australians expect our federal government to take strong action. The future wellbeing and prosperity of young Australians rests on the courage and conviction that our leaders demonstrate today.”
Location: Sydney NSW, Gadigal land
