The Monster Climate Petition is a petition by Australians to our federal House of Representatives asking for strong leadership and action that significantly reduces carbon emissions. It reminds all our politicians that it is ‘the fundamental duty of parliament to protect Australia’s people, land and seas’ and calls on them to make climate policy and action a bi-partisan national priority, rather than a political football.
Original pen and ink signatures are required for petitions to the House of Representatives. So we all need to wear out some shoe leather and move about collecting signatures from within our families, friends and communities!
Signatures from across the nation are now being collected in time for the G20 meeting in Brisbane 14-15 November). We want to show the world that many Australians want strong and effective action to reduce carbon emissions. The Monster Petition will then be presented to the House of Representatives in late November 2014.
This initiative is being led by a non-party political collaboration of high profile women from around Australia.
Lead Petitioner is former Australian of the Year and scientist Dr Fiona Stanley AC, a respected epidemiologist who has devoted her life career to the health of women and children. She is joined by Mary Crooks AO of The Victorian Women’s Trust which is providing the administrative base for the Petition, as well as women from all States and Territories – including writer Judy Brett, Professor of Law Kim Rubenstein (ACT), businesswoman Sam Meers (NSW), strategic environmental planner Pam Robinson OAM (NT), author Susan Mitchell (SA), historian Dr Clare Wright (VIC), Indigenous advocate Leanne Miller (VIC), former restaurateur Dure Dara OAM, environmental educator Eileen Mitchell (Qld) and barrister Patmalar Ambikapathy (TAS).
The petition is available in seven languages as well as English: Turkish, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese and Spanish, ensuring that Australians all over have the opportunity to give voice to their concerns.
The term ‘Monster Petition’ has been adopted in recognition of the campaign for women’s suffrage in Victoria in 1891, which at the time generated 30,000 signatures in five weeks.
You can download copies of the petition from: www.monsterclimatepetition.com.au.
Let’s stand up and be counted. Sign the petition yourself; and collect as many signatures as you can from others.
All signed petitions need to be mailed to The Victorian Women’s Trust, Level 9/313 La Trobe St, Melbourne 3000
