Overview
- An August 2005 submission from Alexander Downer and Ian Campbell described global temperature shifts as "unprecedented in human history" and said CO2 concentrations were 30% higher than at any time in 400,000 years.
- Officials outlined heightened Australian risks including more frequent and intense bushfires, reduced rainfall, pressure on water supplies and negative impacts on agricultural production.
- Although Australia had signed the Kyoto Protocol, the government chose not to ratify it and pursued a looser, technology-focused international approach intended to protect economic interests.
- The papers record Treasury support for an international strategy that is environmentally effective and economically efficient without an unfair burden on Australia, while business warned policy uncertainty was inhibiting investment in energy projects.
- Separate documents show 2005 reforms framed the EPBC Act as a barrier to development and aimed to cut approval burdens on business, contrasting with 2025 changes emphasizing national standards and independent assessment.