Prince Charles has called for immediate action on climate change.
The Prince of Wales made the call in a message to the Climate Change Summit meeting in New York.
- Watch Prince Charles (6m)
With Al Gore On Hand, Clive Palmer Says PUP Will Vote To Abolish Carbon Tax But Supports An ETS
Jun 25, 2014
With former US Vice-President Al Gore standing next to him, Clive Palmer has announced that the Palmer United Party senators will vote with the government in the Senate to abolish the carbon tax.
Palmer says PUP will move an amendment to require companies to pass on to consumers savings from the abolition of the carbon tax.
Palmer also announced that PUP favours an emissions trading scheme with a price set at zero, “which will only become effective once Australia’s main trading partners also take action to establish such a scheme”.
Palmer said PUP will oppose abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Climate Change Authority and the Renewable Energy Target. [Read more...]
Carbon Tax Repeal Bills Passed By House Of Representatives
Nov 21, 2013
The bills to repeal the previous Labor government’s carbon tax have been passed by the House of Representatives.
The third reading of the eleven bills took place at 4.08pm today. The final vote was passed on the voices. In a near-deserted chamber, the Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, was congratulated by his colleagues. [Read more...]
John Howard Climate Change Speech: One Religion Is Enough
Nov 05, 2013
Former Prime Minister John Howard has delivered a speech on climate change in which he calls for a “sense of proportion” in the global warming debate and says that “first principles tell us never to accept that all of the science is in on any proposition”.
Howard said: “In the past five years, the dynamic of the global warming debate has shifted away from exaggerated acceptance of the worst possible implications of what a majority of climate scientists tell us, towards a more balanced and questioning approach.” He warned against use of “offensive language” such as the term “denier”.
Howard said it is “highly unlikely” there will ever be a worldwide agreement on global warming. He said he had “always been something of an agnostic on global warming” and suggested his support for an emissions trading scheme in 2007 was purely political and occurred at a time when it was expedient to be seen to be “doing something”.
Nuclear energy must be part of any long term response to global warming, Howard said.
- Download Howard’s speech (PDF)
- Watch SBS report (2m)
Transcript of John Howard’s speech to the Global Warming Policy Foundation in London.
One religion is Enough
I thank Nigel Lawson and his colleagues for their invitation to be here tonight. When he asked me to deliver this lecture Lord Lawson said that I could talk about what I chose. I think that was not meant quite as literally as it might seem. I am sure he had in mind that I might share with you my views on the contemporary state of the debate on global warming, especially from an Australian perspective. That has special relevance; Australia has a new PM, and integral to his successful campaign was sustained opposition to a carbon tax. [Read more...]
Shorten Says ALP Will Support Carbon Tax Abolition Provided ETS Remains
Nov 01, 2013
The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has announced that the ALP will support legislation to abolish the fixed carbon price but will move amendments to retain the emissions trading scheme.
Shorten said the ALP will oppose the legislation outright if its amendments are rejected.
Shorten spoke at a press conference with the ALP’s shadow minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Mark Butler.
The legislation to abolish the carbon tax will be the first item of business when the new House meets for on November 12. Following its passage through the House, attention will focus on the Senate where the ALP and the Greens have a majority until June 30. The legislation is most likely to be passed by the new Senate after July 1.
Despite speculation that the ALP might agree to support the legislation, Shorten’s announcement comes as no real surprise. The former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, committed the ALP to abandoning the fixed price on July 1 in favour of bringing forward the commencement date of the ETS. Any decision to support abolition of the ETS risked splitting the ALP. The coalition is committed to abolish the fixed price and the ETS. [Read more...]
