Matters of Urgency

The large majority voted against a motion that:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

Fear-based net zero 'climate' policies are harming everyday Australians and have no environmental justification.

The motion was introduced by Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts (One Nation) and supported by only two others: fellow Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson (One Nation) and Victorian Senator Ralph Babet (United Australia Party).

Context of this motion

July was the hottest month on record, this natural disasters taking place throughout the northern hemisphere (e.g., heat waves, wildfires and flooding). In the southern hemisphere, [sea ice in Antarctica](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-24/antarctic-sea-ice-levels-nosedive-five-sigma-event/102635204 is in sharp decline and a winter heat spike in South America has left scientists "flabbergasted". The scale of the crisis has now prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to announce in a speech that:

*The era of global warming has ended. The era of global boiling has arrived.

The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for the others to move first. There is simply no more time for that. ... No more greenwashing. No more deception. And no more abusive distortion of antitrust laws to sabotage Net Zero alliances. ... The evidence is everywhere. Humanity has unleashed destruction. This must not inspire despair, but action. We can still stop the worst. But to do so, we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition and accelerate climate action now.*