Religious groups including faith leaders are bringing their message to local MP Fiona Phillips on Friday, May 3 that they want an end to coal and gas projects as part of the government’s action on the climate crisis by holding a protest outside her office asking her to take their message to the Prime Minister.

Across Australia, environmental groups and others are holding similar actions outside of Government MPs’ offices between April 29 and May 10 to say that if the Albanese Government is serious about keeping people safe from the impacts of changing the climate such as bushfires and floods, there can be no more coal and gas projects. 

“This year the Labor Government will decide whether to approve a lot more potential coal and gas projects. The world’s climate scientists have made it clear that a safe climate is not compatible with any new fossil fuel projects anywhere on Earth”, said Rev John Brentnall from Berry Uniting Church. 

Those attending come from Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church and Buddhist communities. 

“As people of faith we are united in saying that this is a clear moral issue on which this Government must act.” 

“Here on the south coast people know only too well how serious it is to keep upping the chances of more bushfires and floods. It’s bad enough what nature throws at us anyway without pouring fuel on the fire by saying yes to new coal and gas,” said Rev Brentnall. 

The faith communities are joining forces with other concerned local people.

“This is something that concerns people of all faiths and none,” said Rev Brentnall. “We’re all deeply concerned.”

In recent times, faith communities have been increasingly vocal about the issue. In October 2022 more than 100 senior religious leaders from across Australia and the Pacific sent an open letter to Prime Minister Albanese (https://www.arrcc.org.au/open_letter_climate_justice) calling for an end to new coal and gas projects.

Senior leaders from Christian, Muslim and Buddhist faiths followed up on the open letter in November and February by holding meetings in Canberra with the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. They also met Shadow Climate Minister Ted O’Brien.