Attenborough lashes out at Aussie stand on climate

RENOWNED British naturalist Sir David Attenborough has criticised the Morrison Government’s approach to climate change as the Coalition stands firmly by the nation’s coal exports.

Sir David (pictured) has told the BBC the government’s support for coal mines showed the world it did not care about the environment, while noting the destruction caused by bushfires.

He says the “moment of crisis” has come in the fight against climate change, warning that government targets are not enough to save the planet. The government has turned its focus on climate change adaptation and resilience in the wake of the deadly bushfires, but is backing coal exports. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton argues that reducing Australia’s coal exports won’t end up helping the environment.

“(Australia) stopping exports of coal to India or to China will mean that they will source it from other countries,” he told Nine’s Today show yesterday. “It means emissions will go up, so there’s no benefit to the environment and we would lose $70 billion from our economy.” Labor leader Anthony Albanese agrees.

“If you stopped exporting coal immediately, then that would not reduce global emissions,” he said in Sydney.

OUTGOING Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has confirmed he won’t have an official say on who replaces him as the next state and Liberal leader. Treasurer Peter Gutwein and State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson will contest a Liberal party room ballot for the top job on Monday.

“I won’t be voting because I think it would be inappropriate for somebody who’s not going to be a member of the new team moving forward to make decisions about who the next leader will be,” Mr Hodgman told reporters yesterday.

Mr Hodgman announced his resignation on Tuesday.