Deadline extended for climate change feedback

Published Sunday, 31 July, 2016 at 09:00 AM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

The Palaszczuk Government has extended the deadline for public feedback on its climate change discussion paper – Advancing Climate Action in Queensland: Making the transition to a low carbon future.

Speaking on National Tree Day (Sunday), Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the deadline had been extended a month to Friday, September 2.

“It’s important as many Queenslanders as possible have the opportunity to respond to the climate change issues we face and have their say on how we develop strategies to address these and move the state to a low-carbon future,” Dr Miles said.

The discussion paper was released on 11 May this year and originally called for public submissions by August 5.

“Climate change is real, and that is why this Government is committed to taking action to tackle it,” Dr Miles said.

“Increasing sea temperatures are affecting the Great Barrier Reef and we have seen our first mammal extinction due to human-induced climate change, right here in Queensland.

“The discussion paper is one of a range of initiatives we are moving on to put Queensland back on track in tackling climate change.

“In the recent State Budget I announced an additional investment of $6.8 million over four years to lead the development of the government’s climate change strategies.

“This is in addition to $12 million over 3 years we are investing in QCoast2100 and $3 million to develop Q-CAS, the Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy (Q-CAS)”.

Dr Miles, who joined volunteers at Toowong today, said National Tree Day promoted positive environmental change and improved the habitat of Queensland’s native wildlife.

“I am thrilled to be supporting the work being done under the “Toowong Creek Turnaround’, a wildlife movement corridor project run by the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network,” he said.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to get amongst National Tree Day activities and join the 28,000 participants who have already signed up to planting events at 57 public sites, 16 private sites and 387 schools across the state.

“Planet Ark is celebrating 20 years of National Tree Day, and since 1996 more than 3.8 million people have planted 22.3 million trees and plants.

“Keeping trees in the ground is also a simple yet effective way of contributing to Australia’s emissions reductions targets

“That is why the Palaszczuk Government introduced legislation into Parliament to reinstate key components of the Vegetation Management Act trashed by the Newman LNP Government.

“Under their watch, tree clearing rates escalated. We are taking important steps in redressing the balance to ensure that responsible landholders can still make a living from the land while our important vegetation is protected”.

Dr Miles said the discussion paper put climate change into a context everyone could understand by highlighting the opportunities available to tackle this vital issue, saying what the government was already doing, and posing questions about what more can be done.

The discussion paper is available at www.qld.gov.au/environment/climate/mitigating-effects, and the public can have its say by participating in an online survey (at

www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au) by midnight on 02 September.

Written submissions can be emailed to climatechange@ehp.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

Media contact: 0422 580 342