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Port Douglas and Cairns

John Rumney, Eye to Eye Marine Encounters
Can talk about the impacts of the changing climate on the Great Barrier Reef and his tourism business, and outline the community and local council engagement programmes taking place to protect the reef, such as: carbon offset, school and public education, citizen science, and coral restoration.

Dean Miller, Science and Media director, Great Barrier Reef Legacy
Can share a first-hand account of the warning signs the Great Barrier Reef is struggling to cope with climate change and the bleaching events of 2016 and 2017; and how GBR Legacy expeditions collect scientific data for research, and carry out school and public education to help conserve the reef.

Townsville

Dr Scott Heron, UN report author, lecturer and scientist
Can talk about how coral reefs and marine ecosystems are damaged by marine heatwaves and rising ocean temperatures. He can also talk about how he was personally affected by the Townsville floods earlier this year.

David Williamson, reef scientist
Can talk about the capability of coral reefs to recover and regenerate, and how ocean warming is putting more stress on the Reef and undermining its resilience and long-term survival.

The Whitsundays

Tony Fontes, owner, Whitsunday Dive Adventures, can talk about how his business has been affected by the changes to the Great Barrier Reef brought about by marine heatwaves, and his concerns for the future of his business.

Rockhampton

Mick Alexander, Grazier
Can talk about how his business and livestock are affected by worsening extreme heat and drought, how measures such as organic farming and rotational grazing help him cope with worsening conditions, and his narrow escape from last year’s Queensland bushfires.

Angus Emmott, Grazier
Can talk about the impacts of almost a decade of drought on his cattle operations, how his family has diversified their business

Harvey Bay

Greg McGarvie, Managing Director, Get Green, ACE EV Group.
Can talk about his mission to build Australia’s first ‘Made in Australia’ electric vehicles for cargo and personal transport use; and the economic, employment, and environmental benefits of building EVs in Australia.

Sunshine Coast

Verity Morgan-Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Farmers for Climate Action
Can talk about the impacts of droughts, floods, and bushfires on Queensland farmers, and what a National Climate and Agriculture Policy that protects farming livelihoods and Australia’s food security would look like.

Ratan Raju (Jimmy), Owner of Elimbah Village shops, Elimbah.
Can talk about his decision to install 97 solar panels on the roof of the Elimbah Village shops, which reduced his quarterly energy bill from  $5,400 to $1,700 (visuals available)

Katrina White, Owner of White Ride Farm, Elimbah
Can talk about: How installing solar panels has reduced the energy bill substantially, which helps keep their small business afloat. (visuals available)

Toowoomba

Sid Plant, beef cattle grazier on the Darling Downs.
Can talk about how the drought affects farmers’ capacity to keep cows well-fed and resilient to extreme temperatures, and how mining activity threatens farmers on the Darling Downs. Location: Oakey

Brisbane

Graeme Manietta, EV enthusiast
Can talk about how he hasn’t paid for electricity or petrol in years thanks to installing solar panels on his home and business, and switching to an electric vehicle. Location: Brisbane

Huon Hoogesteger, managing director, Smart Commercial Solar
Can talk about why Queensland businesses are embracing solar, and the benefits they’re seeing. Location: Brisbane

State-wide:

Extreme weather and bushfires:

  • Lee Johnson, Former Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), can talk about how he has seen fire danger in Queensland change over the past 45 years, and his concern about unprecedented fire danger affecting the state now. Location: Brisbane

Business and Energy:

  • Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO, The Next Economy, can talk about how Queensland can cash in on job creation and economic growth opportunities arising from transitioning to low-emissions alternatives. Location: Brisbane

  • Andrew Bray, National Director, Australian Wind Alliance, can talk about Queensland’s vast potential to create jobs and affordable energy by harnessing its abundant wind resources and firm up Australia’s energy grid, and how projects like Coopers Gap wind farm are already doing this. Location: Bungendore

  • Luke Reade, Energetic Communities, can talk about how Queenslanders experience energy poverty, and why giving them access to solar power can help with bill stress. Location: Brisbane

  • Andrew Gissing, General Manager—Resilience, Risk Frontiers, can talk about the risks climate change poses to Queensland businesses, and the impact of climate change on the insurance industry. Location: Sydney

Agriculture

  • Verity Morgan-Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Farmers for Climate Action, can talk about: Impacts of drought, bushfires and heatwaves on farmers. Location: Sunshine Coast

Health

  • Judene Andrews, Manager Environment Sustainability, Uniting Care, can talk about: Health implications of the elderly as extreme weather conditions worsen. Location: Brisbane

  • Dr David King, member of Doctors for the Environment Australia and clinical health lecturer, can talk about: How to stay safe from heatwaves and bushfires, climate change, health effects of extreme heat, heatwaves and air quality. Location: Brisbane