The Greens are calling for an end to new coal and gas projects as record temperatures are set to hit Victoria today and Australia is forecast to be the hottest place on earth.
The Victorian town of Ouyen is expected to hit 49 degrees, which would set a new record for Victoria while Melbourne is forecast for 45 degrees.
With a total fire ban, regional communities are anxiously watching for new fires as an out of control fire burns in the Otways.
Meanwhile over the last 9 months, Victorian Labor approved 5 new coal and gas projects. Labor cleared fossil fuel giant ConocoPhillips to start drilling the Otway Basin early last year, and hit gas in November.
Labor continues to fast-track new fossil fuel projects in Victoria. In December alone, the Allan Labor government opened parts of Gippsland and the Otways for gas drilling, a day before the Albanese government opened five new areas for offshore exploration.
The Greens say with Labor opening up new coal and gas projects, we should expect to see more extreme heat days and unpredictable weather.
As stated by Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Sarah Mansfield.
"Every week since the start of this year, Victorians have experienced a catastrophic climate event. In my electorate, along the Great Ocean Road the same communities have faced devastating fires, floods, and now fires again. Yet just offshore from them last month, Labor has approved multiple new gas projects in the Otway Basin. Labor's disconnect is astounding.
"It's unconscionable that Labor is continuing to approve new coal and gas. What we're experiencing is what climate scientists have warned us about for decades - it's terrifying that those warnings have become our reality, and with Labor's new coal and gas projects in the pipeline, things will only get worse.
"Meanwhile, the fossil fuel corporations who are causing this are being allowed to rake in billions while CFA volunteers risk their lives to protect communities and we're left to clean up the mess. It's completely unjust.
