Australian-born MP pushes for parliamentary action on bushfires

7 January 2020, 14:37

Catherine West is petitioning the Speaker of the House to address the Australian bushfires in Parliament.

Catherine West, a Labour MP who was born in Australia, joined Shelagh Fogarty in the studio.

She spoke about raising the issue of the Australian bushfires in Parliament today.

She said: "We're joining together across party to ask the Speaker of the House to just in some way mark what has just been the most horrendous start to 2020 for Australians and for the wider environment, of course.

"So fragile there around the fauna, the flora and just the incredible loss that people are feeling. So I'm really pleased. I'm hoping, you can never predict what a speaker will do in the House of Commons, but I'm hoping that Lindsay, who's a big fan of Australia because he's a rugby league man and so he's been there and very committed, and I'm sure he will allow us in some way as the all-party group to mark that."

Australian-born MP pushes for parliamentary action on bushfires
Australian-born MP pushes for parliamentary action on bushfires. Picture: PA

She also spoke about how they're trying to reach out to the parliamentary union around the commonwealth parliament to "not just express solidarity but also to ask other parliaments to think about the fragility of our environment."

West said: "When a state like Australia declares martial law, basically, that the government can just bring in armed forces and can act in that way, it is right up to a warlike kind of proportion.

"I think that's partly what is driving the emotion behind a lot of this.

"It's not just the images and the terrible loss but it's also they are on a state of alert and I think that's very, very upsetting, worrying for all of them.

"But also, there is a longer term message in there for us all as parliamentarians, as citizens wherever we are."

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

Watch Again: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Wes Streeting to take your calls

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of letting in illegal immigrants

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of rolling out the red carpet for 'illegal immigrants'

Caller Ayo's impassioned defence of trial by jury

Caller Ayo’s impassioned defence of trial by jury

LBC caller's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Caller Sabrina's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

Natasha calls Shelagh Fogarty

Natasha ‘won’t vote Labour again’ over tax on private school fees

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC callers react to the local election results

LBC callers react to the local election results

Caller Heidi

Caller Heidi can't understand why the Ukraine minerals deal has taken the US so long