Climate change presents expanding security risks for Australia. The Albanese Government commissioned the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) to assess climate related national security risks after taking office in 2022. While the findings of the report were delivered in November 2022, no public version, redacted or otherwise has been released as of 2026. The lack of transparency persists despite mounting global and domestic warnings that climate change is intensifying security risks. Several countries, including the UK and USA, have released similar climate security risk reports. It is important for the Australian people to know the risks we are facing so we are able to make informed decisions about how we vote and to pressure our government to take more action.

Background:

A 2021 report from the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG), and the 2021 Chatham House Climate change risk assessment, concluded the worsening climate crisis constitutes a grave, and likely existential, threat to society and humanity.

The ASLCG urged transparency on this matter in its April 2023 report Climate Security Up Front: Transparency, security risks & the government’s duty of care. Former Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie said climate change posed a bigger risk than China’s rapid military build-up, and it was crucial to inform the public about the security implications of warmer temperatures, rising sea levels and increased natural disasters. These risks include massive population relocations and increased conflicts in response to resource scarcities.

In contrast to the Australian Government's secrecy on this issue, the USA (under the Biden administration), the UK and the Nordic Council of Ministers have all released security risk assessment reports. Chris Barrie, noting Australia’s AUKUS partners have both provided greater transparency has queried why a redacted version is not publicly available. "What is so bad about this that we are not allowed to know?”. 

The only people outside government who have seen the ONI report are a handful of progressive cross benchers who were briefed in December 2024 but sworn to secrecy. After the briefing, Independent Senator David Pocock told the Saturday Paper: “We’re woefully underprepared for what’s coming. It's no surprise that the government has been sitting on this report from the Office of National Intelligence.” A Government spokesperson in the same article told The Saturday Paper that the report would not be released. 

Why is this important?

• Failure to release the ONI climate risk assessment undermines effective national planning at a time where climate threats are escalating rapidly.
• To facilitate coordinated action it is essential that the findings of the ONI assessment are made available to the public and all arms of government as soon as possible. 
• Transparency in government processes is a fundamental tenet of our democracy and it is crucial that Australians are fully aware of the implications of delaying action to combat climate change.

Desired outcomes

• The urgent release of the ONI climate risk assessment
• The development of effective policies to limit further global warming.

Further reading:

• What Lies Beneath: The understatement of existential climate risk and Faster Higher Hotter: What we learned about the climate system in 2022 by David Spratt, Research Director, Breakthrough Institute for Climate Restoration
• UK National Security Risk Assessment (Accessible version - updated 2026)

Who to contact: 

• Your local Federal MPs (check on this website if you’re unsure who that is)
• Key Federal Labor (addresses in link) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong; Minister for Defence Richard Marles; Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen; Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke; Treasurer Jim Chalmers
• Federal Senate Crossbenchers (addresses in link) including Greens; David Pocock (ACT independent), Fatima Payman (WA independent); and Jacquie Lambie (JLN), who hold the balance of power in the Senate

Resources:

• Email example below and General email template here to write your own from scratch
• Guidelines and tips for writing emails

Action you can take:

1. Email your MP and/or relevant Ministers:

If you need some help getting started with your email, here is an example. 

Please don’t copy it exactly - personalise it and tailor it to the MP you are writing to. 

In addition, when writing to a Minister or Shadow Minister, start by saying that you’re writing to them in their role as Minister for xxxx, otherwise they will probably just forward your email to your local MP.

[MP name]

[Member for …. or  Minister for ….]

Dear …

[Include a personal statement - who you are and why you care]

In June 2022, the Albanese Government commissioned the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) climate risk assessment and the completed assessment was received in November 2022. Despite this, the Government has not issued an official response or provided access to a declassified version of the report.

This lack of transparency greatly concerns me. The future of Australia is something that every citizen has a stake in - and I believe we have the right to know, and to vote and act accordingly, based on the information in this report.

Both the UK and the USA (our AUKUS partners) have released similar security risk reports.

The information contained in the ONI assessment must be made available to all arms of government and to the public as soon as possible. It is crucial that the Government acts in a transparent manner and that business, all areas of government, and the community at large are able to act cooperatively to combat global warming and the associated risks.

My questions for you are: 

Will you work to ensure the government releases a declassified version of the ONI report?

If the Government intends to continue to withhold the report, why is this step being taken?

If as expected the report highlights that dire security and other risks are likely to arise as the climate crisis worsens, will you work to ensure that our climate policies are significantly strengthened and that necessary changes are implemented as a matter of urgency?

I appreciate your time and attention and look forward to your reply. 

Sincerely

Name

Address

Phone

(Note: your contact details are required if you want a reply)

Hi, my name is ….. and I’m a voter in [your electorate].

I’d like to speak to …..[name of MP]

(Staffer will probably say: I’m sorry they’re not available, can I take a message?)

Yes, thank you! Would you please pass on my message and tell them I’m worried about….

[use 2-3 points from the briefing or email example]

And ask them to ….

[use 2-3 points from the briefing or email example]

Thank you!

Climate change in the Pacific

Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and more frequent extreme weather are hitting Pacific Island nations hard. The region is often considered the front line of the battle against climate change, as its low-lying atolls face coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and permanent inundation, which threaten homes, freshwater supplies, and agriculture. Cyclones and heavy rainfall destroy infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt food systems. Cultural sites and traditional ways of life are also at risk, with some communities forced to relocate entirely. This raises significant climate justice concerns, as the region is facing enormous impacts disproportionate to their minimal contribution to global emissions.