Nearly 95% of Australian families have had to cut their spending on essentials such as food and heating over winter, as the cost of living skyrockets.

A new survey of 1000 households across Australia, conducted by Australian Parents for Climate Action, found that in order to manage costs, many families have cut back on basics like food and travel and almost 10% said they were accumulating debt to manage rising energy bills. 

Nic Seton, Chief Executive of Parents for Climate Action, has welcomed the release today of the NSW Environment Protection Agency’s draft climate action plan. 

Families are gathering at events around the country this weekend to meet their federal election candidates and call for stronger action on climate change.

Australian Parents for Climate Action (AP4CA) branches have organised fun, positive and family-friendly community climate events over the weekend, from a walk with friends, a playgroup, a family picnic, a play-in out the front of local candidates’ offices, to Climate Coffees.

Our Policy and Submissions volunteer team provide parents' perspectives on a range of climate and related policy matters. They develop submissions relating to proposed legislation, government policy (mainly at federal and state level) and certain emissions intensive development projects.

On this page you can find some of our previous submissions. All are vetted by a member of Parents for Climate's leadership to ensure they represent our goals of non-partisan, respectful & professional, parent-led climate action. 

Do submissions work? In a word, yes!

Many of our submissions have been referenced or included in final decisions. Though sometimes, even overwhelming support for a particular outcome doesn't move fossil-fuel-obsessed governments or a legislatively-hamstrung administration. It's important to understand who will read your submission (hint: it's normally a public servant, rarely a politician), and whether the argument you are making is within their legislative or regulatory remit to act upon. One of the challenges we face is that Australia's laws often don't actually work to protect our environment or safeguard our rights to a safe climate, except in very specific circumstances. On the other hand, sometimes governments seek genuine consultations, and are willing to be swayed or even guided by submissions received. Context matters.

Interested in joining our volunteer Policy and Submissions team? Please send a short expression of interest including any relevant background or skills you can bring to the team to [email protected] 

Recent submissions

Parents in Queensland say statements made by Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate for Flynn, Colin Boyce, backing away from the government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 show how out of step the LNP is with the community.

Mr Boyce has reportedly called the Morrison government's commitment to net zero by 2050 a "flexible plan" with “no legislation attached to it”.

Hervey Bay mother-of-two Bianca Sands says parents want strong climate policy from political leaders and candidates.

Parents across Australia are feeling huge relief and renewed hope today, as Australia voted in support of a safer climate future. Australians in urban and regional electorates nationwide voted resoundingly for greater climate action.

Nic Seton, CEO for Australian Parents for Climate Action, said: “We congratulate Australians - including millions of parents with kids - for voting for a safe climate and the benefits of a clean economy.

“Australians have signalled a new era for climate politics, where people all across the country are uniting behind climate leadership,” Mr Seton said.

Australian Parents for Climate Action (AP4CA) welcomes the Labor state government’s recent Climate Emergency Declaration, but is now calling on the government to translate words into action.

AP4CA SA local group organiser Dr Jasper Lee said South Australian families are feeling the financial stress of living in a fossil fuel-dependent society.

“We urgently need to get off high-cost gas and move to utilising abundant solar energy in our homes and businesses,” Dr Lee said.

“As parents and households we are acutely aware that the conflict in Ukraine is having a significant impact on global electricity costs, gas supply and petrol prices. The financial stress of being a fossil fuel-dependent society is having increasingly profound effects on South Australian businesses and families, particularly those in lower SES households and in rental properties, and the State economy at large will also be impacted.”

How to have great conversations with willing participants

What rules and laws do we need to be aware of?

Can we hand out scorecards or ‘how to vote’ cards?

How does Australian Parents for Climate Action answer the question “who should I vote for?”

What is our campaign strategy around polling booths?