[Greens-Media] Howard's $70 million APEC window dressing

Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown) Ebony.Bennett at aph.gov.au
Sun Sep 2 15:19:51 EST 2007


Sunday, 2 September 2007

 

Howard's $70 million APEC window dressing

 

Prime Minister Howard is once again engaged in window dressing on climate change with his announcement today in the lead up to APEC of a $50 million injection into the failed Asia Pacific Partnership (AP6) and $15 million into capacity building in forestry in the Asia Pacific.

 

"Prime Minister Howard is big on public relations but peal away the spin and all you have is hot air," Senator Christine Milne, Greens climate change spokesperson said today.

 

"Climate change is real and urgent. It needs a comprehensive nation policy framework and commitment to legally binding deep emission cuts at the global level if the world is to avoid catastrophe."

 

"How many times do Australians have to put up with the Prime Minister flogging the dead AP6 horse? It has achieved nothing since it was announced and re-announced and re-announced. Even conservative republican like John McCain recognized it as "as a nice little public relations ploy".

 

"The Prime Minister's polling will be telling him that Australians are very worried about climate change and want action. This public relations exercise will annoy everyone who believed the Prime Minister when he told them that APEC would achieve something significant on climate change. 

 

"This announcement leading into a weak APEC communiqué talking about 'aspirational' and 'flexible' targets and followed by a $23 million advertising campaign will see cynicism rise to unprecedented levels.

 

"Suggesting that Australia can take a lead on avoided deforestation in the region while logging high conservation value forest in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW is the height of hypocrisy. Telling Australian that they need to take individual action in their homes while the Government does nothing will result in $23 million worth of punishment at the ballot box.

 

"Having beaten up APEC as a 'leadership forum' on climate change, the Prime Minister is now reduced to smoke and mirrors," Senator Milne said.

 

Further information (03) 6224 8899

 

 


More information about the Media mailing list