Speech to Parliament by Stephanie di Pasqua – one planet, our future: consume with care
Following our successful Speaking 4 the Planet event in June, Drummoyne MP Stephanie di Pasqua gave a speech to the NSW Parliament entirely devoted to that event. It’s really worth reading it or watching the video (see the links below), especially the part where she quotes from the students’ work. The opening paragraphs are particularly noteworthy:
“On 5 June I attended the Speaking 4 the Planet event on World Environment Day at Homebush Boys High School. The event was coordinated by Climate Action Burwood Canada Bay, an organisation comprising of volunteers whose goal is to educate on the environment and sustainability and connect with local State and Federal governments to campaign for action on climate change. The event brought together high schools from across the inner west, including schools in the Drummoyne electorate. It was a great example of what can be achieved when we work together.
“I acknowledge my colleague the member for Strathfield, Jason Li, and the Federal member for Reid, Sally Sitou, who also attended the morning session with me. The competition comprised of four categories: public speaking, writing, drama and an art competition, all centred around the United Nations 2023 World Environment Day theme of ecosystem restoration. Reflecting on that message, the theme for Speaking 4 the Planet was “One Planet, Our Future: Consume with Care”. With the goal to empower students in a powerful and positive way and to voice those concerns through various mediums, it was a great day seeing the creativity of local students. Members in this House could learn a lot from those passionate young people.”
That last sentence is worth repeating, as it perfectly sums up what the S4P event was about. The students were indeed passionate, and crying out for action on the part of their elected representatives.
Another sentence worth repeating is the final one in Stephanie’s opening paragraph: “It [S4P] was a great example of what can be achieved when we work together.” Indeed it was. This is exactly what CABCB is seeking to achieve in our area – bipartisanship on the issues of climate change and renewable energy, and cooperation with all levels of government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The task now is to extend that bipartisanship to the federal level, and that means getting the federal Liberal Party to adopt the policy position of its NSW counterpart. This may seem like a hard ask, but it’s worth remembering that Matt Kean managed to do it in NSW relatively quickly and painlessly. All it requires is a passionate advocate or, failing that, a groundswell of public support. CABCB is working hard on the latter.
If you want to read the full text of Stephanie’s speech, please click here.
If you want to watch the video of her delivering the speech to Parliament, please click here.