Australian Councils Retreat from Climate Action Amidst “Back to Basics†Push
A growing number of Australian local councils are scaling back or abandoning climate change initiatives, prioritizing fiscal responsibility and core services in a shift experts describe as ideologically driven and mirroring trends seen in the United States.
A contentious debate erupted in July at Queenscliffe Council, where one councillor accused colleagues of prioritizing ideology over community wishes as they moved to revise the council’s vision statement. “We are not a municipality that needs grand slogans or vague commitments. What we need and what this vision delivers is clarity,accountability and a focus to get the basics right,†a council member stated during the meeting. Independent councillor Isabelle Tolhurst voiced fears that the changes signaled a precursor to scrapping the council’s Climate Action Response Plan,asserting that the rewritten document failed to incorporate key findings from community engagement. According to Tolhurst, over half of the 387 survey respondents did not wont the vision altered, with a third identifying climate change as a top priority. She further stated she could not find a single survey response advocating for the removal of climate change references.
The situation in Queenscliffe is not isolated. Several councils across Australia have recently rolled back climate commitments or softened language around “climate emergencies.†In April, Mornington Peninsula Shire narrowly voted — 6-5 — to rescind its climate change declaration and accompanying plan. Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro defended the decision, stating it wasn’t about denying climate change, but rather “facing a fiscal reality and ensuring our climate response delivers actual value, not just rhetoric.â€
Similarly, Colac Otway Shire councillors amended their climate action plan the same month, removing specific causes of carbon emissions, including agriculture.Councillor Charlie Buchanan, who proposed the amendment, argued it was unfair to single out farmers. “Everyone recognises there’s some issues there. Personally, I think it’s an open book [as to] what’s causing climate change,†he said. The council also reallocated funds previously earmarked for carbon credits, directing them towards programs supporting farmers and other local groups involved in initiatives like tree planting. Buchanan justified the move, noting that half of the shire is already forested and questioning the value of purchasing credits overseas.
Further examples include Warrnambool City Council’s rejection in June of an independent, state government-commissioned flood study, with most councillors expressing distrust in the data. In Melbourne’s south-east, Dandenong Council narrowly voted to withdraw from a regional climate change program, anticipating savings of $128,249 this year and over $400,000 over three years, to be reinvested in projects like transitioning to renewable energy and installing solar panels. Even historically progressive councils are re-evaluating their approaches; Merri-bek Council scrapped its carbon offset program, opting for “direct action,†while Yarra City Council’s independent bloc voted down a proposal to explicitly mention the “climate crisis†in its four-year plan. Petitions expressing concern over reduced climate mitigation funding have been launched in Bayside and Darebin Councils.
According to Dr. Mark Chou, a local government expert at the Australian National University, this trend represents a “step back†from the global movement to declare climate emergencies that began around 2016. Chou characterizes the “back to basics†narrative as ideological, not neutral, and a “reactionary form of politics.†He argues it signifies “a return to councils being primarily there to serve property and property owners,†prioritizing the needs of ratepayers during challenging economic times over broader social and environmental concerns. He also noted a correlation between the timing of Victorian local council elections and the recent US election, suggesting some rhetoric has been imported from overseas.
Chou further observed that US-style culture wars are increasingly playing out in Australian council meetings, including instances of harassment by conspiracy theorists and backlash against inclusive events. In some cases, he suggests, the focus on “roads, rates and rubbish†serves as a “Trojan horse†for more extreme viewpoints.
However, the trend isn’t universal.The City of Boroondara, now lead by a progressive majority, recently quadrupled its climate initiative budget to $3.9 million for 2025-26, focusing on EV chargers and electrification grants. Mayor Sophie Torney stated the increase reflects “what our community wants, and we’re proud to be a leader in this space.â€
Jono La Nauze, CEO of Environment Victoria, cautioned that neglecting the impact of climate change on council services could ultimately prove costly for both councils and ratepayers. “The cost of maintaining council assets like roads, drainage and parks and gardens are already being pushed up by more frequent extreme weather events. Yet the cost savings of climate action are there for the picking,†he said, citing Maribyrnong City Council’s projected $400,000 annual savings from switching its aquatic center to an electric heat pump.
Peter Cook, from the Queenscliffe Climate Action Network, expressed concern that his council will scrap the Climate Emergency Response Plan, a document his group spent years developing. “It’s hard not to be concerned.â€
