Senate Rejects Climate Duty of Care Bill Despite Rare Liberal Support for Pocock

The bill sought to make governments consider future generations’ wellbeing when approving projects with high emissions.

Senator David Pocock speaks during question time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 28, 2022. Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Independent Senator David Pocock’s bid to embed a legal duty of care for future generations in the nation’s climate laws has failed to secure enough votes, despite cross-bench and rare Liberal senator support for the measure.

The legislation, titled the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2025, sought to require ministers and decision-makers to consider the health and wellbeing of children when approving projects that increase greenhouse gas emissions.