Australia needs a legislated body to track its progress on climate change and prepare the country to deal with its effects, independent Zali Steggall has declared.
She intends to put a bill to parliament in early 2020 to set up such a body, modelled on the British Climate Change Act.
"We need to know the economic implications of climate change to all sectors of the economy," Ms Steggall said.
"In circumstances where some argue that we should not, or cannot, act, to prevent climate change, then let's be very clear about the cost of doing nothing or not enough. Business as usual is not a zero-sum game."
Ms Steggall also wants the framework to set out markers of where Australia's emissions need to be at interim points, such as 2022 and 2025, if the country is to meet its 2030 targets for cuts.
"There's a lot of disagreement out there as to how we're going," she told Sky News.
"The government is adamantly saying we're going to meet our 2030 target, the science community says we're not.
"It's one thing for the government to say we're getting there but we have no visibility and reporting process of how we're getting there."
Ms Steggall made action on climate change a key part of her campaign to wrest the seat of Warringah from former prime minister Tony Abbott.
She is also backing a parliamentary motion to declare a climate emergency.
And next Tuesday, she will present a record-breaking e-petition calling for that declaration to parliament.
That petition received just over 370,000 signatures.
Australian Associated Press
