ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION ISSUES IN THE
COMMUNITY IS ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE –
WHY AREN’T THE MAJOR PARTIES LISTENING?
When dealing with climate change issues, one leader is blissfully ignorant and pretending not to be a climate change denier, and the other leader, although trying is still falling well short of the expectations of most Australian voters.
Morrison has done nothing and is almost certain to do nothing to bring Australia into line with most of our trading partners in stopping global warming. The fact is that with his cabinet stacked with climate change non-believers, and some of them in leading roles in departments critical when it comes to the environment. Joyce, Taylor and Pitt have charge of infrastructure, transport and regional development; industry, energy and emissions reduction; and resources and water. Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past three years you’ll know that none of these men have any interest in reversing global warming or reducing emissions. Unbelievably, the Minister for Emissions Reduction, Taylor has moved to expand the mandate of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to allow it to fund carbon capture and storage and “clean” hydrogen projects produced from fossil fuels – his attempts have been unsuccessful, so far!
[YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT TAYLOR AND CARBON CAPTURE ON THIS WEBSITE – SEE ESSAYS]
Labor fares better – marginally. The Labor target for zero emissions beats the Morrison government’s pathetic effort by fifteen years, yet that is still nowhere near good enough as Labor appears determined to maintain, if not expand, Australia’s coal mining. One can hope that this is a “small target” ploy to help get them elected when they could gradually take a more positive stand towards helping cool the planet.
If climate change repair is of concern to you, there are probably three possible scenarios after 21st May. The first is a re-elected Morrison government, the second a Labor government, or the third more appealing scene being a minority government relying on the sensible contribution of a number of independents. One would have to doubt that a coalition led by Morrison could bury their egos and chatter enough to entice a partnership with the independents.
#rockflatblog