Climate Change Now a ‘Credible Threat’ Alongside Terrorism, Cyberattacks: Home Affairs Department

Solar panels in this drone photo at the Impact solar facility in Deport, Texas, on July 15, 2021. Drone Base/Reuters

Climate change risks rank alongside counterterrorism and cyber security as a key priority for Australia’s home affairs department, according to a recent estimate hearing.

On Feb. 13, the secretary for home affairs, Mike Pezzullo, faced questioning from Senator Alex Antic, who asked whether the department’s focus on climate change risks was “comedy [or] parody?”

Pezzullo would eventually respond, saying the department was responsible for providing “policy and legislative advice” to the Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watts.

“I genuinely don’t know how to respond to a rather oddly put question. You asked me whether it’s comedy. It’s my job. I don’t; I don’t really understand what you’re asking me?”

Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo speaks during a Senate inquiry at Parliament House in Canberra on September 24, 2020. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Antic pressed further, asking where climate change sat alongside other threats such as “counterterrorism, cybersecurity, migration visas, [or] refugee humanitarian statements?”

The secretary responded by saying, “I mean, I balance my work, the resources that government affords me across all of the national risks that we assist the government in managing.”

Pezzullo further explained that the department now ran the national resilience task force, which was set up after the Labor Party won government in May 2022.

The task force has a wide purview that looks at “security, as well as climate-induced national resilience challenges”—ranging from the impact of natural disasters to supply chain blockages.

Antic responded by asking: “So, you say that human-induced climate change is, is somehow, a credible threat to Australia’s home affairs? It is the contention?”

Pezzullo said: “I think it’s a credible threat to Australia and where the Home Affairs Department is.”

Labor Senator and minister for emergency management Murray Watts interjected to say the federal government’s decision to set up the National Emergency Management Agency within home affairs was based on what the “overwhelming majority of scientists” were saying about climate change being a threat to Australia.

“Just as the home affairs department is the correct agency to be considering the potential impact of cyberattacks on our country or terrorism attacks on our country. This is a threat to our country that is appropriately dealt with by home affairs.”

Labor Makes Its Mark on Home Affairs

Climate change is a major part of the Labor Party’s policy agenda. The federal government has pledged to invest billions into encouraging the development of renewable energy.

At the same time, the home affairs department has also undergone major restructuring by Labor ministers.

Under its Administrative Arrangements Order, key functions were shifted away from home affairs and placed under the attorney general’s department, including the Australian Federal Police, criminal justice, and protective services.

Meanwhile, home affairs will retain control over the domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Liberal Senator James Paterson has criticised the changes to the department and recently warned that the time taken by the government to relist terror organisations had “blown out.”

According to documents obtained by Sky News Australia, it took 22 days for several terrorist groups, including Islamic State and Al-Qaida, to be relisted because approvals needed to go through Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neill, the attorney general’s department, then-Attorney General Mark Dreyfus himself, and then final notice to the prime minister and opposition leader.

The process began on Oct. 4 before being finalised on Oct. 26. While a similar process under the previous Liberal-National Coalition started on June 25 and ended on July 1.

“The government assured us their illogical and ideological demolition of the Home Affairs portfolio wouldn’t have adverse consequences for national security, but it’s now obvious it has,” Senator Paterson told Sky News.

“The time taken to list a terrorist organisation has massively blown out—hardly surprising because the decision is now double-handled by two ministers instead of one.”