Steph Hodgins-May Urges Climate Action in First Senate Speech

Steph Hodgins-May, a former environmental lawyer and new Victorian representative in the Senate, made a compelling call for stronger climate action in her inaugural speech. Drawing from her experiences with Pacific island nations affected by extreme weather and climate change, she emphasized that climate change is a matter of justice, not just science. Hodgins-May highlighted the urgent need for Australia to adopt more ambitious climate targets, reflecting the sentiments of Pacific Islanders and their leaders. She also reiterated the Greens’ stance against new coal and gas projects.
Additionally, as the Greens’ spokeswoman for early childhood education, Hodgins-May advocated for free and universally accessible early childhood education. She criticized the current subsidy system tied to parental activity as “punitive and cruel,” pointing out the financial strain on families. Hodgins-May took over from retired Senator Janet Rice and was sworn in on May 14.