We’re still shaking our heads in disbelief over former PM Tony Abbott’s ridiculously ill-informed speech about climate change.
Abbott told the crowd at the Global Warming Policy Foundation‘s annual lecture in London that climate change could be a GOOD thing, because “far more people die in cold snaps”.
You might remember Abbott supported the Paris Climate Agreement while he held office and set national emissions targets and established the Renewable Energy Target.
Some might suggest the former PM is deliberately stirring the pot and trying to undermine, particularly at a time when the Turnbull government appears to be disagreeing over the clean energy target.
But Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is not sitting back and allowing Abbott’s sudden conflicting opinions to go unnoticed.
Speaking to the ABC‘s 7.30 program, Ms Bishop said:
“It is up to him to explain the differences between his opinion then and his opinion now. He is entitled to change his mind, but I am sure that is why there is a deal of interest in what he has to say.”
She then clarified: “The important thing is the government’s position and under Prime Minister Turnbull we are working hard to come up with a plan that delivers affordable and reliable energy that will meet our international obligations.”
Abbott’s speech has riled up the other parties in Australia too.
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek told Sky News: “Tony Abbott’s left the realm of the merely destructive and entered the realm of the loopy. This is actually just weird stuff from the former prime minister.”
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said it was time for the Liberal Party to “stop giving Tony Abbott a platform for his wrecking.”
Former Liberal leader John Hewson has also urged Malcolm Turnbull to call Abbott out.
Time will tell!
