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House of Representatives
Managing our coastal zone in a changing environment.
Mr DANBY» (Melbourne Ports) (7.16 pm)—I too am pleased to make some comments on this report of
the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts into climate change and its
environmental impact on coastal communities. This committee was very ably chaired by my good friend the
honourable member for Throsby. She is to be commended for this excellent report, which I think will make a
real difference to the way Australians think about the possible impact of climate change on their everyday lives.
I too represent a coastal electorate, including the bayside communities of Port Melbourne, South Melbourne,
Albert Park, St Kilda and Elwood. Must of the western part of my electorate is built on sand dunes. If you look
at the old maps of Melbourne, you will see that much of my electorate was saltwater swamp before the seawalls
were built. Over the generations, thousands of homes, ranging from workers’ cottages in Port Melbourne to the
mansions of the wealthy in Beaconsfield Parade, have been built along the foreshore. These many coastal homes
as well as beaches, foreshore parks, marinas, yacht clubs and many other amenities in my electorate will be put
at risk if the sea level continues to rise as a result of the uncontrolled climate change brought about by human
activity. Even a slight rise in average global temperatures causes the volumes of the oceans to rise as water
expands when it gets warmer. This is felt in increased sea levels.
The report of the standing committee on climate change documents that the damage caused to Australia by
rising sea levels will be far more serious than the loss of suburban amenities, although this is certainly important
to the people of my electorate. It will cause grave and irreversible harm to some of our great national assets.
These include the Great Barrier Reef, which will be put at risk if the surrounding waters get both warmer and
deeper; Kakadu National Park, which is at risk of flooding with salt water; the Coorong and Lower Lakes of
South Australia, already in serious trouble because of the drought, also risk salt water flooding; the beaches of
the Gold Coast, and we saw that in all of the television coverage of this excellent report; the Sunshine Coast; the
90-mile beach in Gippsland; and the great suburban surf beaches of Sydney and Perth—
Ms Hall—And New South Wales.
Mr DANBY—Sorry, and Newcastle. They are all in danger of being washed away if sea levels rise. I am frankly
astonished that members of the opposition continue to deny that this is a real problem and that they are continuing
to obstruct our CPRS bill in the Senate. The Australian today too denies that this is a real problem. Its editorial
commenting on the standing committee’s findings states that there is no need for the alarm inherent in this report.
Both the Liberal Party and the Australian are at sea on this issue. There is almost no major country in the world in
which a greater peril as a result of uncontrolled climate change exists than in Australia. We are already the driest
inhabited continent. A rise in temperatures could devastate many of our inland agricultural areas, depriving our
grazing lands of water as rivers dry up and kill off our irrigated farming industries. I hope members of the National
Party, in particular, are ready to explain to their constituents why they are blocking the government’s efforts to
do something to stop climate change before we reach that tipping point at which it becomes irreversible—which
scientists warn us may not be too far off. Today’s Canberra Times acknowledged this excellent report and said,
‘Now is the time to act’. In an editorial entitled ‘Government must act on sea rise warning’, the Canberra Times
argued that this report should not be dismissed and that the action against further climate change must begin now.
To be frank, a lot of the reports this parliament produces are a waste of paper, but this one is genuinely
important. It demonstrates in plain, everyday terms what the effects of uncontrolled climate change will be
for millions of Australians and how it will cause economic and social loss as well as environmental loss. Its
significance was reported in the important British newspaper the Guardian in an article entitled ‘Climate change
threatens Australia’s coastal lifestyle, report warns’. The article said:
With 80% of Australians living along the coastline, the report warns that “the time to act is now’’.
This report is a testament to the political wisdom of the member for Throsby and her colleagues on the committee.
The member for Throsby’s independence of judgment generated the big ideas behind this report. It is her great legacy to the future of Australia. I hope all Australians get a chance to read this report. I am going to put it on
my website for my constituents to read, and I hope all my colleagues do the same.
Click here to read the report.
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There was a favourable election report on the Melbourne Ports Victory in the Melbourne Weekly. Click here
Look who is suppporting Michael Danby on August 21. Click here
The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor today announced that, if re-elected, a Gillard Government will extend the highly successful Secure Schools Program, which has already improved security at 54 schools across Australia. Click here Michael Danby calls for Liberal candidate for Melbourne Ports to disassociate himself from fake Danby website. Click here Emerald Hill Weekly interviews Michael Danby on rise La Gillarde. Click Here
So, what is Australia's National Broadband Network? Why is it so important and what will it mean for every Australian? Click here
Federal Labor's School Building Program saw the culmination of nearly a decades hard work by Galilee Primary School principal, Frank Cervillo with the opening of the schools multi-purpose hall, replacing a derelict under croft. Michael Danby representing Education Minister Julia Gillard said with the addition to the school precinct, Father Bob McGuire, Father David Hoffman, the local Catholic community and the Catholic Education office now saw Galilee and an adornment to the Catholic Education system. Click here.
Before Australia's Parliament leglislates autonomous sactions against Iran, Australia welcomed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 imposing new sanctions against Iran, adopted overnight in New York. Click here
Danby examines how the Federal Labor Government is addressing Public Housing in Melbourne Ports. Click here
Broadcaster and eminent theatrical producer John Michael Howson writes to Michael Danby on Passports Affair. Click here
Michael Danby, has welcomed the Treasurer's 2010 Federal Budget which is economically responsible and provides relief for the people of Melbourne Ports experiencing cost of living pressures, while also affording additional incentives for saving. Click here
New Salvation Army Crisis Accommodation Centre opened by Michael Danby and Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek. Click here
Malaysian Militant attacks Danby in Malaysian Parliament, Click here
Michael Danby, argued not to accept the Stern Hu bribery conviction, as it may have been given under duress Click here
Michael expressed his doubts about the fairness of Chinese legal system and its dealing with the Australian citizen Stern Hu. Follow the link to see Michael Danby on Bloomberg TV's 'The Trade', speaking on Stern Hu Click here
Michael Danby criticised Tony Abbott's undignified jibes in front of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Click here
Michael Danby welcomed the resumption of Middle East Peace Talks and pointed to generous offers made to the Palestinians by previous Israeli leader Ehud Olmert-see map, click here
More than 400 people attended a function at the St Kilda Town Hall on February 15 to pay tribute to Danby's work in the electorate for more than 11 years. Click here
Over 60 Australian Mp's and Senators signed a letter to the Malaysian Government asking to drop the charges against Anwar Ibrahim. Click here
Michael Danby says the ABC wont kow-tow to the Chinese communist party, click here.
Click here to read Laurie Oakes's overview of proposals that would cost the taxpayer $500 million dollars to finance political parties, published in The Herald Sun on the 19th of December, 2009.
Click here to read the speech delivered by Governor-General Bryce on Sir Zelman Cowen's 90th Birthday.
Julie Bishop makes a desperate and out of context attack on Michael Danby. Click here
Michael Danby has called the Liberal Party's recent outburst on Border Security nonsense. Follow the link to see Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, Chris Evans, discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers on Lateline (October 14), click here, or more recently the Minister's interview on the 7.30 Report on the 21st of October. Click here
Michael Danby delivered a detailed speech on New Matilda and Crikey.com declaring them the ‘dark and ugly recesses of the internet' . Mr Danby called on Crikey owner Eric Beecher to explain his publications failure to moderate racist comments. Click here.
Beijing's treatment of minority groups. Says a cover story of the Aust. Jewish News. Click here
An All party delegation to India consisting of 6 mps had their outrage towards the recent attacks on Indian students reported in the Economic Times (of India). Click here
Michael Danby promoted the Harmony Day Walk in the Hindustan Times on the 4th of July Click here and on the same day the Sunday Tribune (of Bangalore) newspaper reported on the delegations outcry at the attacks on Indian Students Click here
25 May 2009: Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Michael Danby, today tabled the 2nd of the Committee's reports into immigration detention. For Michael's tabling speech please click here. Please click here for the media release.
Local area receives Budget millions. Please click here for information on the benefits Melbourne Ports is receiving in the 2009-10 Budget.For a macro explanation of the budget, please see this interview with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and this interview with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Local small businesses were winners in this year's budget. There will be an increase and extension of the Small Business and General Business Tax Break. For more information please see these links to Media Releases from the Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson.
Media Release 1 Media Release 2
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blasted Iran's role in undermining the anti racism essence of last week's UN conference, which had the stated objective of opposing bigotry. Click here
New Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn explained that 1.2 million Australians are not enrolled to vote, to see his dramatic opening statement to the Electoral Matters Committee click here.
Chinese Ambassador ticks off Member for Melbourne Ports. Danby welcomes his felicitous response: SMH article, Canberra Times articleForeign Minister defends Danby's appearance at rally click here
Michael Danby today announced that 28 local schools in Melbourne Ports will receive $4 million for minor infrastructure and refurbishment projects under Round One of the National School Pride (NSP) program. Click here
Pauline Hanson drops her bundle appearing on Today Tonight (channel 7) and walks out on an interview over questions about the $200 000 bonus she received, for receiving 4% of the Queensland Senate vote ($2.10 per voter) at the 2007 election click here. To read how Michael Danby exposed her earlier funding rort Click here
The Joint Committee on Migration established a new paradigm for the humane but rational treatment of asylum seekers. Click here.
Clive James, one of Australia's most celebrated expatriates penned the following poem in the Australian Literary Review. September 7 2007
