Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (18:31): (1996) I rise to express the Greens’ deep concern about the decision to disestablish the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, one of Australia’s most respected and nationally significant hubs of climate science, public policy and community engagement. The institute is internationally recognised as a world-leading centre for sustainability and climate research, and its work informs governments, trains students and professionals and connects communities with practical solutions to the climate crisis. For just a few examples of what the institute does, the Climateworks Centre helps bridge the gap between research and real-world policy. The Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub has pioneered ways to engage the public on climate issues, from national broadcast partnerships to regular media columns demystifying climate science. In the Pacific region MSDI’s Pacific Action for Climate Transitions program has empowered climate leaders to continue working in their own communities while delivering high-impact research.

At a time when Victoria has committed to halving emissions by 2030, when our state is experiencing record heat, bushfires and floods and when communities are calling for a just and orderly transition away from fossil fuels, this program could not be more important. To lose it now simply because of short-term budget pressures is absolutely a false economy. The costs of climate inaction are measured in billions of dollars in homes lost, in farms ruined and in lives disrupted.

The closure threatens the livelihoods as well of dozens of skilled researchers, communicators and educators whose expertise Victoria cannot afford to lose. Universities have already borne the brunt of three decades of neoliberal policy in tertiary education, where public funding has been steadily cut back, commercialisation has been prioritised over public good and institutions have been forced to rely on insecure contracts and short-term project funding. The result of all this is chronic job insecurity for staff and an erosion of the very public interest capacity that our state needs from its universities to confront serious policy challenges like the climate crisis. Retaining these jobs and this expertise in Victoria must be part of any serious climate plan, so the action I seek is for the Minister for Climate Action to urgently engage with Monash University to find a solution that secures the future of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. Whether through government co-investment, industry partnerships or support for its core climate programs, the Victorian government has a role to play and a responsibility to ensure we retain this crucial expertise at such an important time in our climate journey.