Recently, I met with climate change scientists, who were visiting Canberra to impress on parliamentarians the importance of acting now on this issue. They highlighted the mounting scientific evidence that points to the devastating consequences of sea level rises, temperature increases and more extreme weather events – if the world doesn’t address climate change by reducing its emissions.

It was a sobering discussion, as even if the world does begin to limit its emissions, we will still need to adapt to the climate change that is already inevitable. You may have heard climate change sceptics arguing that, in recent times, temperatures have not increased, and that this proves climate change is not real. I wish this were the case.

We have gone through a cyclical cooling period. However, the alarming truth is that the globe has not cooled as much as it would during a regular cyclical cooling period. In fact, temperatures have remained fairly flat. What is most alarming is the underlying trend – which shows ongoing variability from year to year and decade to decade, but a strong underlying upward temperature trend..

Check out the graph on the right. I certainly got the message. We are fast running out of time to stabilise global temperatures. An outcome at Copenhagen is vital – as is getting a strong package of climate change measures through the Senate, so that Australia can play its part.

On the Hill

Normal 0 false false false EN-AU ZH-TW X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 During the last sitting period, I had the opportunity to speak on the critical role the Rudd Government's stimulus package is playing in supporting businesses and jobs in WA.

I also spoke on the National Consumer Credit Protection Bill. The Rudd Government introduced this important reform to protect ordinary Australians from unscrupulous lending practices and to further ensure the stability of our credit markets in these troubled economic times.

I was also pleased to able to inform the Senate of the success of the recent Rudd Government Community Cabinet in Geraldton.

In Committee

Gene Patents
Suicide in Australia
Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling Laws) Bill 2009
Competition and pricing in the Australian dairy industry
Welfare of International Students
Australia Post's treatment of injured and ill workers
Energy Efficient Homes Package
Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009
Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill 2009
Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009
Native Title Amendment Bill (No.2) 2009
Access to Justice
Natural Resource Management and Conservation Challenges
Rural and Regional Access to Secondary and Tertiary Education Opportunities
Bushfires in Australia
Food production in Australia
Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities

Out and About

Get Involved

Youth Violence – Have Your Say: Earlier this year the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth and Minister for Sport, The Hon Kate Ellis MP, asked the House Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth to inquire into and report on the impact of violence on young Australians. Submissions have closed but young people can still have their say filling out an online survey.

National Strategy for Young Australians: On 22 October 2009, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP and the Hon Kate Ellis MP, launched the National Conversation to consult with young people and the broader community on the development of the Australian Government’s National Strategy for Young Australians. Find out more and have your say on the National Conversation home page.

Indigenous Students Guide: The Aurora Project has released an Indigenous students’ guide to postgraduate scholarships in Australia and overseas. It covers all disciplines, including architecture, business, education, government, health, humanities, information technology, law, and the arts.

Stay in-touch

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If you would like to find out more about any of the initiatives or other issues in this edition, please do not hesitate to contact my office: