SENATOR ANNE URQUHART
SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
CHIEF GOVERNMENT WHIP IN THE SENATE
MEDIA RELEASE
NEW FEDERAL PARLIAMENT TO COMMENCE WITH NORTH-WEST SENATOR IN KEY ROLE
The 47th Federal Parliament sits for the first time on Tuesday, July 26th with Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart taking up the key role of Chief Government Whip in the Senate.
Senator Urquhart was recently elected unopposed to the position by the Labor Caucus, having served as Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate from September 2016.
Senator Urquhart said she was looking forward to taking on the role within the new Parliament which will see her play a key role in management of daily proceedings in the Senate Chamber.
“It’s a very demanding role which am delighted and honoured to have been entrusted with,” said Senator Urquhart.
The Labor government will use the new parliament to take important first steps towards fixing aged care, protecting vulnerable Australians, addressing the challenges in our economy and working to confront the challenges and opportunities from our changing climate.
The Albanese Government’s Climate Change Bill will be introduced into the House of Representatives in the first week of sittings.
It will:
- Enshrine in law our Nationally Determined Contribution of 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.
- Task the Climate Change Authority to assess and publish progress against these targets and advise Government on future targets, including the 2035 target.
- Legislate a requirement for the Minister for Climate Change to report annually to Parliament on progress in meeting targets.
- Insert the nation's targets in the objectives and functions of a range of government agencies including: ARENA, CFC, Infrastructure Australia and the NAIF.
“Australians voted for change and our government is working hard and delivering,” said Senator Urquhart.
“We have a lot of work to do with ten years of mess and mistakes to clean up, but we are united and determined.
“We want to bring Australians together to create a better future.”
DATE: 25 July 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: SUSAN WALLACE 0418372198
