By Celine Lai

On 8 April 2020 the Australian Senate established a Select Committee to enquire into the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals and organisations were invited to make written submissions before the end of May. Many of those who responded emphasised the importance of climate action as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response.

These submissions can now be read on the “Submissions” section of the Select Committee’s website.

Submissions can be sorted and searched by number. Here are the numbers of some submissions relating to the need for climate action and the names of the organisations submitting them:

 

Submission Number	Organisation
99	Climate Action Hobart
100	Hastings Parents for the Environment
114	Environmental Action Group
157	Farmers for Climate Action
158	Beyond Zero Emissions
295	Friends of the EArth
297	ClimActs and LIVE
300	350 Australia
301	Australian Conservation Foundation
305	Darebin Climate Action Now
307	Lock the Gate Alliance

 

The submission by 350 Australia details the vested interests of the current National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) and calls for diversification and transparency of processes of the Committee, a conflict of interest register, a fair and open system for the appointment of new Commissioners, accountability, and that recommendations made from the Commission to the Government include an independent assessment of its climate change impacts.

Lock the Gate’s submission calls for these also, plus gives a very clear and concise way forward for focusing on renewable energy as part of the economic recovery.

Please support the organisations who put in Submissions and share information about the need for Australia’s recovery from COVID-19 to address the need for proactive climate change.

Look out for regular interim reports and for Senate Select Committee hearings related to climate change implications.

Follow the links under About this Enquiry on the Select Committee’s website.

We need to keep up the pressure on the government to drive positive climate change by stopping oil and gas expansion and investing in energy-saving initiatives and renewable energy.