Ballarat Grammar Headmaster, Mr. Stephen Higgs today joined with BREAZE to call on the ALP and Coalition parties to treat our children with respect by making real commitments to deal with climate change.

“Climate change is the most important issue facing our world today,” said Mr. Higgs. “I’m dismayed that neither major party is offering the urgent and resolute response which this issue demands.

“There is a glaring lack of moral leadership from both major parties on this issue. By pandering to people’s fears of change they are jeopardizing the futures of our children.”

 “As a student studying the science behind climate change I can understand the enormity of the situation, but I don’t see that as an adequate excuse for the dismal policies both parties are offering,” said Brandon, a Year 11 student from Ballarat Grammar. “The Australian people need real action, right now!”

Both the ALP and coalition have committed to emissions reductions targets of 5% cuts by 2020 but the Climate Institute’s ‘Pollute-o-meter’[1] shows that their policies will see emissions increase by 19% and 8% respectively. By contrast, the Greens policies would see emissions decrease by 25% by 2020.

 “BREAZE is not aligned to any political party and our members come from right across the political spectrum so we want to see all parties stepping up to the plate,” said Andrew Bray, BREAZE Community Campaigner.

“But the sad reality is that neither major party has credible policies on climate change. The ALP has backflipped on ‘the greatest moral challenge of our generation’ and the so-called ‘direct action’ Liberal party is missing in action.”

“BREAZE will be making a huge VOTE CLIMATE letterboxing effort this election to ask Ballarat voters to make climate change the issue they vote on.”

“Our message will be simple – if you don’t like the climate policies of your party, don’t vote for them.”