Strengthen Integrity to Save the Climate

January 30, 2024

In Australia our government faces a fossil fuel conundrum. While they may accept that carbon emissions reduction is urgent, they do so in a country whose financial viability depends to a considerable extent on fossil fuel exports funding our imports of manufactured goods. Our democracys integrity is significantly compromised by fossil fuel and other vested interests. Climate change cannot be tackled effectively until government integrity is restored.

The government must urgently reduce the undue influences that impede healthy public debate and decision-making eg: reforming political donations regulations to remove the disproportionate influence of major donors; reforming lobbying to limit the disproportionate influence of former ministers, MPs and senior public servants; requiring truth in political advertising, to remove the misinformation and distortions that plague our politics and media; and requiring governments to take account of the interests of future generations when making decisions.

Fortunately each of these initiatives has already been proposed to the parliament in private members bills sponsored by independent MPs (respectively Rebekah Sharkie, Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney and David Pocock). If the government wants to free Australia from its fossil fuel conundrum while retaining a healthy democracy, it would be well-advised to support these private members initiatives.