The Casey Federal Election: Climate Action for a Resilient Future
The Climate Council’s latest report, Too Close to Home, presents alarming evidence of the increasing frequency and severity of climate-fuelled disasters in Australia. Among the hardest-hit regions, the Yarra Ranges has experienced significant climate-related disasters since 2019/20, highlighting the urgent need for sustained focus on climate change. Yet, as the cost of living crisis dominates public discourse, the deeper and more insidious costs of climate change remain largely overlooked.
Since 2019/20, states and territories have sought assistance from the Australian Government 226 times.
Recent findings from Roy Morgan Research indicate that concern about 'Global warming and climate change' among Australian voters has decreased by 9 percentage points, now standing at 23% as a priority issue in the upcoming federal election. Australians are understandably focused on the rising cost of essentials such as housing, energy, and groceries. However, what remains hidden beneath these immediate concerns is the financial burden of climate inaction. Extreme weather events—bushfires, floods, and storms—have not only devastated homes and infrastructure but have also placed immense pressure on first responders and local governments. Since 2019/20, states and territories have sought assistance from the Australian Government 226 times, highlighting the unsustainable strain on emergency response systems. While temporary relief packages provide short-term support, they do little to mitigate the long-term economic consequences. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed, home values in high-risk areas have plummeted, and local businesses are struggling to recover from repeated climate shocks. These hidden costs manifest in ways that are not always immediately visible—job losses, mental health challenges, and the erosion of community resilience.
The Yarra Ranges, with its lush forests and vibrant communities, is particularly vulnerable to climate-fuelled disasters. The 42 recorded disasters in recent years—second only to Baw Baw—serve as a stark reminder of what lies ahead if climate inaction continues. Bushfires, which have ravaged large parts of the region, will only grow more intense and unpredictable without meaningful climate policies. Severe storms and floods are already disrupting essential services, isolating communities, and destroying infrastructure. Each disaster brings more financial strain, forcing local councils and residents to divert resources towards rebuilding rather than proactive adaptation measures. Without decisive action, the Yarra Ranges faces a future where climate disasters become an unmanageable financial and social burden. The cost of recovery will far outweigh the cost of prevention. Ignoring the root cause—climate change—to focus solely on managing its impacts is akin to treating symptoms while ignoring the disease.
Ensuring that climate change remains central to policy discussions despite competing economic concerns is essential in driving meaningful progress.
The MotHs annual survey findings have repeated indicated that climate change was the number one concern for local residents despite the cost of living demands. To ensure a livable future for communities like the Yarra Ranges, climate change must remain a top political and social priority. This means investing in climate resilience by strengthening infrastructure, improving emergency response capabilities, and supporting community-led initiatives that promote sustainable land management and climate adaptation. Accelerating emissions reductions through transitioning to renewable energy sources, enforcing stricter emissions regulations, and incentivising green technologies is crucial. Community-led adaptation should also be encouraged by empowering local councils and grassroots organisations with funding and resources to develop tailored climate action plans. Ensuring that climate change remains central to policy discussions despite competing economic concerns is essential in driving meaningful progress.
The Yarra Ranges, like many other communities across Australia, is already paying the price for climate inaction. While the cost of living crisis is an urgent issue, failing to address the deeper, long-term costs of climate change will only compound economic and social hardships. We cannot afford to treat climate disasters as isolated incidents; they are part of a growing pattern that demands urgent and sustained action. Keeping climate change on the agenda is not just an environmental necessity—it is an economic and social imperative for a sustainable future.