Last Sunday I hosted the first Corangamite Youth Climate Forum, at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds. Over 50 young people attended to hear local environmental groups speak about the worsening impacts of climate change. This forum was held in conjunction with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, who spoke passionately about the future and why they will join the School Strike 4 Climate this Friday, 20 September. The forum and the school strike are particularly important at this moment in our political history. We have government ministers denying the science, denying the causal link between catastrophic events and climate change, despite the evidence of escalating and devastating impacts. Young politically active Australians should be congratulated for raising their voices in a plea for urgent change and action. Much of Corangamite is on the coast and I witness daily the impacts my communitythe erosion of the dunes, the loss of breeding habitat. The impact on us is minimal when compared to our low-lying Pacific neighbours. I will march with these young people as they raise their voices and bravely call this government to take effective action to protect Australians and our stunning flora and fauna from this man-made climate crisis. I invite others in this place to join me.