Climate activist group, Knitting Nannas Central Coast, protested in West Gosford last week in support of MP Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bill which she put to the House of Representatives on Monday, November 9.
The bill, seconded by Rebekha Sharkie, was for an “act to establish a national climate change adaptation and mitigation framework, and establish the Climate Change Commission, and for related purposes”.
The Knitting Nannas held signs outside the office of Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, on Central Coast Hwy on Friday, November 6, to encourage her to support the motion.
Knitting Nana activist, Nerida Riley, was there on the day and said now is the time to act.
“We are here to try and encourage our local Member Lucy Wicks, to support the Climate Act, which looks at a policy on reducing emissions and dealing with climate change,” Riley said.
“Central Coast Knitting Nannas and Nannas all over Australia support Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bill.
“It is well beyond time for our government to take Climate Change seriously and to support renewables now.
“We will continue to urge our politicians to do so, #netzero2050,” she said.
The Knitting Nannas Against Gas group was established in 2012 in NSW in response to a growing awareness of the exploration for unconventionally mined gas in prime agricultural land.
They use knitting as a tool for non-violent political activism.
“I think it is really important for the future generations coming up, and also because Australia is already suffering the effects of climate change such as the bushfires, and to some extent, the COVID issues,” Riley said.
“We have been lobbying (about) climate change for a long time, but this specific legislation is particularly important as it will set the tone for any of our climate action for the future.”
The Central Coast Knitting Nannas group has advocated against gas for 10 years, and Riley said not everyone in the group must know or want to knit.
“Some of us knit, some of us crochet, but you don’t have to do any knitting to be involved,” she said.
“We are open to anyone of any age who would like to support our cause.”
Jacinta Counihan