Australia’s scientific community has praised the move, touted as a vote of confidence for the science underpinning man-made climate change.

It comes as Federal Independent MP Rob Oakeshott moved a motion for the House of Representatives to confirm the science community was right and climate change posed serious problems for Australia.

“Let us see where the bums land, from all members of parliament, in support of the very best advice in the science community,” Mr Oakeshott said this week. 

“The advice is real and the question for the House today is whether or not we accept it.” Labor, the Liberals and the National Party supported the motion unanimously.

The move emphasised the need for a commitment from Australia’s leaders to reducing carbon emissions, said Climate Change Australia’s Hastings branch.

“With an election just around the corner, it’s vital that all our leaders, current and aspiring, demonstrate their knowledge on climate change,” the group’s president Harry Creamer said.

Mr Creamer said the show of confidence was heartening for activists and Mr Oakeshott had again showed leadership on this “critical issue”.

The Gillard government has implemented its Clean Energy Future scheme to tackle climate change.

“It’s bringing down emissions from power stations and other polluting businesses and encouraging the development of clean energy from the sun, wind and other renewable sources,” Mr Creamer said.

“It’s essential that this scheme – and all of its component parts – be retained by the next government and not replaced with less-effective measures.” 

Mr Oakeshott said the motion finally endorsed the work of Australia’s science community in confirming man-made climate change was not a con.

“No more games,” he said. “Today Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott were joined at the hip on climate change,” Mr Oakeshott said. 

“Today, the unprecedented attacks on our science community come to an end.”