It’s a small win, but we’ll take it.Just this month, we let you know that the current Federal Government was up to its same old tricks... censoring climate data that should have been released months ago.
When the data was finally released it showed that Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution levels have risen, yet again - for three years in a row. Australians deserve to know about this, because emissions must start trending downwards - immediately, and rapidly - if we’re serious about climate change action.
Each and every time the Government has delayed, diminished or distorted this data - we’ve called them out on it, whether they’ve released climate data on Christmas Eve, weekends, public holidays - you name it.
This time, they released the data on the eve of football grand final weekend, hoping no-one would notice. So we sprang into action, speaking out across the media (including a national TV segment on ABC’s Media Watch), and by asking you to get the word out, by sharing our article far and wide.
And with your help and a massive groundswell of community action across the board, together we’ve notched up a win.
Yesterday, the Senate approved a deadline for the Federal Government to release its greenhouse gas pollution data (1). Emissions information must now be released within five months of the end of each quarter, or the Government must provide an explanation for the delay.
This is a crucial step towards allowing Australians access to this critical data, rather than it being hidden away and missing from the national headlines. With no credible Federal Government climate policy, as emissions continue to rise and climate change intensifies, this is information that the public must see.
This is a huge demonstration of the importance of our work holding up a mirror to the Government. And we couldn’t do it without you.
BUT... we won’t stop here. We’ll be setting our alarm, waiting for the Government’s next data delivery. And the next.
And we’ll continue to hold the Federal Government to account on their woeful emissions targets, atrocious dismissal of the recent IPCC report, and false claims that Australia will meet its Paris targets.
As you know, there’s still so much to do. But wins like this remind us just how powerful we can be when we work together.
Here’s to honest and timely climate reporting.
Dr Martin Rice
Acting Climate Council CEO & Head of Research
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