Back in 2007, Alex Pearce, the captain of Fremantle and a proud Palawa man, had a memorable encounter with then-prime minister John Howard. During Howard’s campaign tour in Tasmania, Pearce, then in Grade 6 and serving on his school council, mustered the courage to ask, “Mr. Howard, what are you going to do about the environment and global warming?”
Fast forward nearly 20 years to now. As Australia gears up for another election, climate change is again a hot topic. Unlike before, the Coalition plans to reveal its 2030 climate targets only after the election, while Labor will not update its emissions reduction goals until the votes are counted.
ACT Senator David Pocock, who has faced challenges getting his Duty of Care bill passed in the Senate, says the responsibility for pushing climate action now falls on minor parties and independents.
Alongside his wife Emma, Pocock has launched a campaign called FrontRunners. This initiative has already gained the backing of over 100 athletes. Notable supporters include Pearce, AFLW stars Emma Kearney and Nicola Barr, Olympic boxer Harry Garside, and Australian men’s cricket team captain Pat Cummins.
FrontRunners aims to unite athletes at all levels to advocate for the Duty of Care bill. This legislation would require the government to consider the well-being of future generations when making environmental decisions. However, the bill has hit a roadblock in the Senate, facing opposition from both major political parties.
Pocock expressed hope that, if re-elected, he could bring his bill to a vote in a Senate that may be more favorable to climate action. The push for change continues, as athletes and supporters rally for a sustainable future.
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