The Week That Was - September 12 2013

This week, it’s real … we have a new Prime Minister and his name is Tony Abbott. And the Senate, well, who knows. There is so much change – much of it not good. Abbott is planning a trip to Indonesia, and WHAT is Harrison Ford DOING? All this and more, in The Week That Was…

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"I'm sure that in terms of attitudes to women, new Australian PM Tony Abbott will bring his country roaring into the 1980s.”
Tom Harris, UK MP

Well there is no way around it. Tony Abbott will soon be sworn in as PM. We knew it was coming, didn’t we. So the big question is – how do we keep up the climate change action momentum in this new environment in order to keep up our good work?

The obvious next question is – what is the likelihood of repeal of the price on carbon. It is still not a tax, we have to remind everyone.

The Senate. How do you finish that sentence? What is the story with ‘our nation’s house of review’ as Emma Alberichi deftly pronounced it. Who is in and out is still not completely decided but it would seem we have many micro parties represented. We have Ricky, we think,  Lazarus, PUP, and of course the Sports Party guy…

The Climate Institute tells us that exit polling contains some good news. That concern about climate change is still on the radar, but jobs and the economy are the main concerns. This means there is no mandate to scrap the carbon price. And an encouraging report explains regardless of what happens to the price on carbon, the future of coal in Australia does not look bright.

If you are planning to flee the country travel by air for any particular reason, and you want to minimise your damaging emissions, don’t fly to or from NZ or Oz.

And this week’s IPCC report leak tells us that Arctic and Greenland’s rate of melting is increasing. While new research tells us we should not worry about the Great Barrier Reef bleaching – as the more imminent threat might be that, it melts.

The Pacific Island Forum has been and gone and our friends from the small island states did their usual fantastically large job of explaining why as a neighbour, Australia should punch above their considerable weight and act on climate change.

And it is scary news that on the first day of Spring, Sydney has been gripped by not one but more like 50 bushfires burning in Western Sydney (not a hint of irony there). Officials are predicting a nasty bushfire season.

While Kevin Rudd resigns as the ALP leader and it is widely tipped that Bill Shorten will put his hat in the ring for the job, Mr Abbott tells us his first overseas trip as PM will be to Indonesia to meet with BBY about a bunch of things we suspect.

While Hollywood actor Harrison Ford is making a documentary about climate change and generally alienating Indonesian government officials. 

Meantime our new right wing Catholic PM would do well to take some advice from his spiritual leader Pope Francis. Let’s stay connected, to continue do our inspiring work, talking to our communities about climate change. It is more important than ever before.




Image courtesy of ConnorKearney97 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons