The Tasmanian Greens' welcome Minister Hidding's announcement of an inquiry into the State's devastating June floods. We commend the Minister on the appointment of former Auditor General, Mike Blake, to oversee the Inquiry.
We are, however, extremely disappointed the Inquiry won't specifically address the role climate change played in the scale and intensity of the floods, and the growing role it will play in extreme weather events in the future.
After a prolonged Spring and Summer drought that brought catastrophic January and February bushfires, rains of almost biblical proportions fell on Tasmania in June.
The loss of life, crops and critical infrastructure was unprecedented.
These events came after the hottest Summer, the hottest year and the hottest decade in human history.
Climate change is here. It's impacting on our lives, communities, the environment and the economy right now.
It is a major missed opportunity not to include specific examination of climate impacts in the flood inquiry.
We urge Mr Blake to ensure that, despite the impact of climate on the floods being ignored by the Liberals, it is a key focus of the Inquiry's work.
