A new report released today by the Climate Council has reviewed the Liberal Government’s performance on climate change and found that it is the defining failure of leadership of the past decade.
Oliver Yates, independent candidate for Kooyong, said this report shows that former Environment Minister and now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, has put the safety and security of Australia at risk in order to prop up his own ambitions.
“At this election, voters need to stand up and throw out the Environment Ministers who have failed to protect our safety and security, and right now we have a historic opportunity to do that in Kooyong.
“It’s absolutely critical that we address climate change. That’s why I am running for Parliament. People here in Kooyong are absolutely fed up with the Government’s failure to do their job.
“Josh Frydenberg has just lied and mislead the public. He’s claimed emissions have gone down, when they’ve clearly gone up in every year of his Government.
“They think it’s in their political interest to pay lip service to climate change, but they attack renewable energy and are addicted to massive donations from the coal industry. It’s beyond short sighted, it’s blind self-interest.
“Frydenberg is fighting as hard as he can in Kooyong right now, employing dirty tactics to protect his career. He’s not interested in your future, only his own.
“Australia needs leadership and integrity if we are going to address climate change. Not chaos, a litany of corruption and censorship.
The Climate Council report finds that:
- The Government has slashed climate science funding, cut effective climate change programs, rejected advice from expert domestic and international bodies, and that senior Ministers, including Josh Frydenberg, have mislead the public
- Deep funding cuts and job losses at the CSIRO have weakened Australia’s climate science capability. As a result, Australia is unprepared to cope with the impacts of climate change.
- The Government’s lack of climate change action is the defining leadership failure of the past decade. We have not tackled climate change, the consequences are with us, and we must work very quickly to prevent further catastrophe.
- Australia’s next government must adopt credible climate policy and a transparent and accurate approach to reporting and tracking Australia’s climate performance, to ensure the public can appropriately evaluate its performance.
“This report is an indictment on Josh Frydenberg and his performance as Environment Minister. By failing to address climate change, Josh Frydenberg deserves to be thrown out in this election, to send a strong message to the Liberal Party and bring an end to this shambolic Government,” said Mr Yates.
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For more information please call Adrian Dodd 0401 726 476
