Local members from activist group GetUp pressed the case for stronger action on climate change during a meeting with Federal Member for Macquarie Louise Markus on April 9.
Former Blue Mountains City councillor Lyn Trindall was among the GetUp delegates who raised climate change — nominated the most important issue in a recent survey of GetUp’s 630,000 national members — at the MP’s Windsor office.
Mrs Trindall, the local GetUp group co-ordinator, stressed the urgent need to act on climate change.
“That climate change is happening and happening quickly is now beyond dispute. Scientists from all over the world warn that we need to get on top of our emission problem quickly as we are approaching the ‘tipping point’ which will have catastrophic consequences for the human race and environment in which we live,” she said.
GetUp delegate Dr Martin Wolterding asked Mrs Markus if she accepted “that human activity is heating up the world’s climate and if so, what are you doing as our federal member, to slow, stop and reverse Australia’s contribution to global warming?”.
Mrs Markus declined to answer this directly when contacted by the Gazette, saying in a statement: “It was encouraging to speak about the Greater Western Sydney conservation corridor and Green Army projects which are an important part of the Coalition’s direct action plan to reduce emissions.
“We are committed to projects that will make a real difference to the environment and local communities. There are many practical ways we can work together to protect the environment and that is why I am looking forward to working with the local community on these election commitments.”
The GetUp delegation also raised the treatment of asylum seekers, improving equity in the tax system and protecting public broadcasting from funding cuts at the meeting.
“I was also able to assure the members of GetUp that I will continue to discuss with my colleagues the other issues they have raised with me,” said Mrs Markus.
“I am always willing to keep an open dialogue with residents and provide feedback at a parliamentary level.”
