Albanese Government urged to protect current and future generations from impacts of climate crisis
The Human Rights Law Centre today urged the Albanese Government to take decisive action to protect current and future children from the existential impacts of the climate crisis after a Labor-dominated Senate Committee failed to listen to the voices of children, climate scientists and health experts calling for a legislated duty of care.
In its submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, the Human Rights Law Centre had warned that Australia’s current environmental laws do not prompt sufficient consideration by decision makers of either climate change impacts or the rights of future generations, particularly regarding decisions about new coal, oil, and gas projects.
While the Committee noted that policy makers “may benefit from a more explicit emphasis of the implications of decisions for children and future generations”, it stopped short of recommending that this be enshrined in law. Instead, it recommended the use of a non-binding ‘’child rights impact assessment tool’’ to help guide decision-makers assessing new or expanded coal, oil or gas projects.
Jack McLean, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre said:
“With our planet currently hurtling towards catastrophe, the Albanese Government should be using every policy lever at its disposal to address the climate crisis and protect the rights of future generations.
“The Committee’s rejection of the Duty of Care Bill is a slap in the face for the hundreds of children and young people from across the country who wrote submissions pleading with the Government to pass this law. Many of these children are already experiencing first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change, which are hitting the most disadvantaged in our communities the hardest. These impacts will grow exponentially into the future if action is not taken now.
“We urge the Albanese Government to listen to what young people are saying and act now to protect their future. In addition to passing the Duty of Care Bill, the Albanese Government should move to enact a national Human Rights Act enshrining the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in Australian law”.
Anjali Sharma, youth climate activist and Duty of Care campaigner said:
“It is outrageous that a government should deny that it has a duty of care to the young people of today and tomorrow. This serves as yet another blow to a generation quickly losing faith in the political system. Despite a wide consensus that young people will be worst affected by the climate crisis in years to come, and substantial public and cross-parliamentary support for the bill, the government has chosen to elevate the voices of fossil fuel lobbyists in parliament rather than those who stand to have their future shaped by today’s policies.”
“161 countries have enshrined the right of children to a healthy environment. Some have gone even further, instating future generations-specific legislation and statutory bodies. In rejecting this duty of care, the Australian government is once again making our country out to be a laggard on issues of utmost importance, denying that they have a duty of care to the young people of their country.”
Image: Fahan Junior School
Media contacts:
Thomas Feng
Acting Engagement Director
Human Rights Law Centre
0431 285 275
thomas.feng@hrlc.org.au
Bougainville community leaders demand seat at the table in remediation discussions with Rio Tinto
Bougainville community leaders are calling for a seat at the table in discussions about the potential remediation of the environmental devastation caused by Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine, scheduled to begin in Port Moresby today.
Read more
Major environmental damage and human rights impacts to Bougainville communities confirmed by independent investigation into Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine
Communities living with the ongoing devastation from Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine in Bougainville are calling on the company to commit to funding remediation and addressing public safety risks, after a major independent investigation funded by the company confirmed life-threatening, ongoing social, environmental and human rights impacts from the mine.
Read more
Passage of landmark healthy environment bill sets standard for Australia and abroad
The ACT Parliament’s passage of legislation enshrining the right to a healthy environment is a watershed moment in human rights and environmental law in Australia, according to the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) and the Human Rights Law Centre.
Read more
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Cammeraygal, Darug, Wadawurrung, Turrbal and Jagera people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.