SWAYING the Morrison government's mindset on climate action starts from the grassroots for grandfathers Nick King and Rob McLaughlin who manned the first shift in a week-long protest outside Member for Calare Andrew Gee's office yesterday.
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Organised by Greens candidate for the upcoming council elections Haidee Edwards, members from various environmentally aware groups plan to stand with the banner from about 8am to 6pm until Friday.
The banner is calling on Mr Gee to support Member for Warringah Zali Steggall's modified bill on climate action which calls for an 60 per cent reduction in emissions on 2005 levels by 2030.
The bill will be presented on October 18.
Mr King and Mr McLaughlin said their motivation was their families.
"I'm a grandfather, as Robert is, we realise it's something that has to be done ... this decade is basically the make-or-break decade," Mr King said.
"'I'm very concerned for future generations at the rate we're going," Mr McLaughlin said. "What sort of future they will have, not just younger Australians but younger people world-wide.
"We are the driest continent on the planet and we need to look after what we've got, we've got an amazing country here.
"Farmers are now for climate action. If we don't get busy on climate then its projected to be something like a 25 per loss in primary production. That's going to hit the primary producers big time. Unless we get busy on climate then we're going to be in really bad shape."
Mr King said six out of 10 people in the Calare electorate want action on climate change.
"They want to see Andrew Gee, because as you know the Nationals are being very coy about this, we want to see Mr Gee use his influence in parliament," he said.
"He wants to see how much it will cost us if we adopt appropriate action on climate change, he should be asking himself what it's going to cost us if we don't.
"When you look the bushfires, the drought, we've lost billions of dollars."
Mr King believes the Morrison Government must go to the COP26 conference in Glasgow with a ''definite plan".
"If they don't come up with a plan that's workable that includes the whole planet, everybody paying and everyone pulling their weight, then basically we're going to cook the grandkids."
In a statement Mr Gee said the government will be determining its position on net zero emissions over the next couple of weeks.
"I believe the National Party and the Government need to be constructively and positively engaged on the issue and approach the discussion in good faith to see where we can land. Sticking your fingers in your ears and refusing to have the conversation is not the way to go," he said.
"In doing that we need to make sure that jobs in country Australia are protected and that country people aren't being dudded and carrying the can for city people.
"I think there are opportunities here for country Australia that we should have a good look at, and I like the idea of technology getting us there rather than taxes. Let's be open to the conversation and see if we can find solutions that work for our country communities and the environment, so that we hand down the best possible Australia to our children and grandchildren.
It was early days, but Mr King said so far reaction to the banner was mixed.
"You watch the traffic go past, it is fairly eye-catching and you can tell by the look on the person's face whether they're supportive or not. Sometimes we get some encouraging toots. It's a mixture."
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