Climate Education

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, representing the Minister for Education, regarding climate change teachings in primary schools.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: This week saw the release of the federal government's National Climate Risk Assessment, which contained predictions for Australia such as a 400 per cent increase in heat-related mortalities, flooding to areas inhabited by more than one and a half million Australians, plus other forecasts about dire economic impacts if we don't reduce our 1 per cent share of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.

In response, prominent Australian developmental psychologist Clare Rowe said primary school children are being, and I quote, 'taught to be scared' about climate change, with some fearing they won't make it to adulthood as a result. Ms Rowe said that the mental health of students was actually being harmed by climate change claims in the classroom, not climate change itself, with some primary school-age children paralysed with anxiety and reduced to tears.

A report authored by Ms Rowe recommends abolishing the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability, and also recommends delaying climate education until secondary school. My questions to the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, representing the Minister for Education, are:

1. Is the government concerned that exaggerated climate change information being taught in South Australian schools is causing unnecessary anxiety among primary school-age children, including potentially contributing to the dramatic rise of eating disorders in primary school-age children?

2. Will the government abolish the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability, which forces teachers to insert sustainability into lessons such as music, geography, sport and so on?

3. Can the government explain why climate change anxiety is the only anxiety condition validated in schools, while the aim is to erase all other forms of childhood anxiety?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:37): I would have to seek further information from the minister in the other house.