<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/david-pocock-condemns-australias-fossil-fuel-projects-as-an-existential-threat-to-pacific-neighbours>
"The independent senator David Pocock says the Australian government is failing
to listen to its “Pacific family” and must stop approving new fossil fuel
projects that fuel “an existential threat for those nations”.
In a new podcast to be released on Monday, the ACT senator also described the
“really sobering” experiencing of entering parliament and “seeing the influence
of the fossil fuel industry” up close.
“It’s been really frustrating to see Australian politicians talk about the
Pacific family and then not listen to Pacific Island nation leaders when it
comes to bold climate action,” he told the
Good Will Hunters podcast, which
focuses on the aid and development sector.
“I really think that we need to step up as a country.”
Pocock, a former Wallabies captain, drew on his rugby experience to explain the
gap between the Australian government’s rhetoric and its actions in approving
coal and gas projects.
“I remember being a rugby player talking to some of my Fijian-Australian
teammates, who talk about their home village having to find higher ground for
cropping because the land’s becoming too salty, becoming saline,” he said.
“And then you’ve got an Australian government going on about how, you know,
we’re part of the Pacific family … and it just doesn’t square.”
Pocock said it was inconsistent for Australian officials to make such pledges
to Pacific neighbours “and then go and approve new fossil fuel projects when
they know that that is going to be an existential threat for those nations”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
