Kingborough Council voted to declare a statewide Climate Biodiversity Emergency on July 8, just three weeks after adjoining Hobart City Council became the first Australian capital city to do the same.
The motion, moved by councillor Amanda Midgley, also commits council to write to Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to urge them to declare a climate emergency at the state and federal levels.
The public gallery at the Kingborough council meeting was packed and included members of the Red Brigade, an affiliate group of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Tasmania, who stood silently dressed in blood cloaks with their faces painted pale white.
XR Tasmania described the outcome as showing “powerful leadership at the local government level” and offering “flickers of hope for all”.
Set up just over two months ago, XR Tasmania already has more than 400 members involved in a wide range of activities.
[XR Tasmania can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the Extinction Rebellion Australia website. XR Tasmania will be holding its first non-violent direct action training day on July 28 in Hobart.]