Regions accept climate transition: senator

The Greens new Queensland senator is working to dispel the myth of a conservative state opposed to action on climate change.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne used her first speech in the Senate to call for a transition plan for regional Queenslanders employed by the fossil fuels sector.

"There are some in this place who would have you believe that the people of regional Queensland don't want to see meaningful action on climate change," the Gladstone-based senator told the chamber.

"Well, that's nonsense.

"Workers in regional Queensland know that the world is moving away from fossil fuels and that a transition to renewable energy is inevitable.

"What they want to know is what comes next and how they will be supported through the transition."

Senator Allman-Payne called for a change to politics as usual after both major parties saw a swing against their primary votes at the May election.

She took the Senate seat of former assistant attorney-general Amanda Stoker with a 2.45 per cent swing, becoming the third Greens senator to be elected in the state's history.

"The federal election was a wake up call to every single parliamentarian and corporate lobbyist strutting the halls of this building," she said.

"People are scared and people are angry.

"They have had enough of a status quo that delivers record corporate profits while everyone else suffers, and they are willing and able to tear it down."

Senator Allman-Payne also used her first speech to call for action on inequality within the education system.

"Since returning to teaching, I've become increasingly distressed by the growing inequalities in our education system," she said.

"While public school teachers are forever being asked to do more with less, private schools receive ever-increasing funding.

"Every Australian student deserves a world class education, and public money should be for public schools."