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The early signs were bad... the Abbott government didn't instal a science minister for the first time since 1931, instead burying it deep inside the Industry portfolio.
Reasonable debate has been suppressed. Any suggestion that the recent bushfires in NSW were linked to climate change were quickly shouted down, despite many well informed people trying to argue otherwise. When a highly respected UN official expressed an opinion counter to that of our ill-informed government, she was accused of talking through her hat.
Among its highest priorities, the independent Climate Commission was quickly shut down by Abbott's government. They couldn't have an independent authoritative voice giving people the facts, and undermining their scare campaign. Thankfully that while Abbott and Hunt didn't value the Commission, many Australians did and the Climate Council was quickly born attracting $1 million in private funding (through donations) in less than a fortnight.
As a part of the removal of the price on Carbon, Abbott has also eviscerated ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency). ARENA's model of financially supporting select renewable energy projects is an example of direct action which has been very effective. And while the Coalition committed to supporting their work pre-election, this has become yet another broken promise. It also makes you question their level of commitment to their own Direct Action policy.
Among the earliest job cut announcements by the Abbott government, the CSIRO featured prominently. And beyond that the government has moved to shut down numerous advisory committees. It seems they already have all the answers, and for better or worse they will be implementing all their half-baked ideas. Once the Direct Action plan actually becomes half-baked we will likely be lumbered with that too.
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On the world stage we are becoming a pariah by not sending a representative to the upcoming UN conference and by backing away from supporting developing countries as they move to a more sustainable future alongside refusing to support the UN's Green Climate fund. Even recent pleas from clearly traumatised victims of the Philippine typhoon have fallen on deaf ears.
And myths about the price on Carbon and its repeal are being debunked almost daily.
This government is quickly unraveling, but we still have many more stuff-ups and disasters ahead of us.
But don't feel that your only opportunity to send a message is at election time. The two most pressing issues at the moment, on both sides of politics involve the MRRT and the price on Carbon. If you want to send a message to our 'Luddite in Chief', if you want to see Australia maintain a price on Carbon, then make your way down to Strand Park this Sunday at 4pm. It is a part of action that will be occurring right around the nation. Check out the video below.
Big numbers will send a big message. Hope to see you there.