Newly elected Bennelong MP Jerome Laxale says Australia needs to go further in reducing emissions than its legislated 43 per cent target.
The Labor MP representing Sydney’s lower north shore urged the government against delivering the talking points of big emitters in response to the climate crisis.
“While I’m incredibly proud to be in the parliament that has finally taken action on climate change,I know that the science tells us that we need to go further,” Laxale said,adding he wanted to use Labor’s “precious time” in government to drive emissions reduction beyond the legislated target.
“This isn’t a small ask,but it is so very achievable. As we did during the pandemic,on climate change and emissions reduction,we need to trust the experts,and we need to trust the science.”
The speech comes after both houses legislated the government’s climate change legislation,with the government confirming following crossbench negotiations the target would be a “floor,not a ceiling.”
He also used his first speech to call for a national conversation about the Commonwealth funding of public schools. Public funding for private,and often prestigious schools has increased over the past decade.
“The best education should be available at all schools,public or private,and to that end,Commonwealth funding must be fair,and it must have strings attached. Instead,we now have public schools that are scrambling to fix old toilets where some private schools are scrambling to build new pavilions,” Laxale said.
“I find this to be unfair,unsustainable and not in the national interest.”