Monday, 1 December 2008

Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, has again ducked answering a question on what goals in tackling climate change Australia will take to the global conference in Poznan, Poland next week.

In the Senate today, Senator Wong refused to answer Greens Leader Bob Brown's question about whether Australia would back a global goal of limiting greenhouse gas pollution of the atmosphere to ‘safe' 350 parts per million (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent), ‘dangerous' 450ppm or ‘catastrophic' 550ppm. She did not rule out the latter which Professor Ross Garnaut predicted would lead to the loss of the Great Barrier Reef.

Senator Wong could not or would not outline the Rudd government's proposals to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from deforestation, a specific goal of the Poznan conference.

Last Tuesday Senator Wong avoided answering Senator Brown's question about whether she would announce Australia's 2020 goal for greenhouse gas reduction before, during or after the Poznan conference. Then at 4.22pm on Friday, her press release revealed this critical announcement would be made AFTER she returns from Poznan, the 15th December (Monday week).

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603