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Turnbull attacks Abbott over climate policy
Email to friendPrintEnlarge text07 December 2009 | 11:45:23 AM | Source: AAP
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Malcolm Turnbull has launched a stinging attack against Tony Abbott's approach to climate change, saying the new policy is a farce and some claims amount to "bullshit".
In his latest blog, Mr Turnbull said that he planned to speak bluntly about the coalition's climate change policy, which helped to bring his leadership undone last week.
As Mr Abbott had never been afraid of speaking his mind, Mr Turnbull said: "I am sure he won't complain if I tell a few home truths about the farce that the coalition's policy, or lack of policy, on climate change has descended into."
Mr Abbott has ditched coalition support for an emissions trading scheme (ETS), labelling it a big tax.
He has pledged to meet the targets to cut emissions through other means, suggesting he'll do it cheaper than the Labor ETS.
Mr Turnbull disputed that commitment. Whether it's clean coal technology, planting trees or using renewable energy, it'll all cost money, he says.
"So any suggestion that you can dramatically cut emissions without any cost is, to use a favourite term of Mr Abbott, `bullshit'.
Moreover he knows it," Mr Turnbull said. Mr Turnbull dismissed promises the coalition would come up with a "credible, solid and effective policy". "Any policy that is announced will simply be a con, an environmental figleaf to cover a determination to do nothing," he said.
Mr Turnbull has vowed to cross the floor to support the Rudd government's ETS legislation when it is reintroduced to parliament early next year.
Mr Abbott maintains the scheme isn't popular in the community. And he accused Kevin Rudd of "running scared" after the prime minister snubbed a challenge from the Liberal leader for a series of debates on climate.
"He knows that the general public are increasingly sceptical," Mr Abbott told ABC radio.
"Something like 80 per cent of the Australian people say that they don't have enough information and that's code for they don't really understand it and I think that the public won't vote for something that they don't understand and that is what Mr Rudd is frightened of."
The latest Newspoll suggests the public is willing to give Mr Abbott a hearing, at least. In the better PM stakes, Mr Abbott debuted at 23 per cent, up from the last 14 per cent rating for Mr Turnbull. Mr Rudd had his percentage cut five points to 60 per cent.
The Liberal Party increased its primary vote by four points to 34 per cent.
On a two-party preferred vote, however, Labor remained far ahead on 56 per cent compared to 44 per cent for the coalition.
Email to friendPrintEnlarge text07 December 2009 | 11:45:23 AM | Source: AAP
.
Malcolm Turnbull has launched a stinging attack against Tony Abbott's approach to climate change, saying the new policy is a farce and some claims amount to "bullshit".
In his latest blog, Mr Turnbull said that he planned to speak bluntly about the coalition's climate change policy, which helped to bring his leadership undone last week.
As Mr Abbott had never been afraid of speaking his mind, Mr Turnbull said: "I am sure he won't complain if I tell a few home truths about the farce that the coalition's policy, or lack of policy, on climate change has descended into."
Mr Abbott has ditched coalition support for an emissions trading scheme (ETS), labelling it a big tax.
He has pledged to meet the targets to cut emissions through other means, suggesting he'll do it cheaper than the Labor ETS.
Mr Turnbull disputed that commitment. Whether it's clean coal technology, planting trees or using renewable energy, it'll all cost money, he says.
"So any suggestion that you can dramatically cut emissions without any cost is, to use a favourite term of Mr Abbott, `bullshit'.
Moreover he knows it," Mr Turnbull said. Mr Turnbull dismissed promises the coalition would come up with a "credible, solid and effective policy". "Any policy that is announced will simply be a con, an environmental figleaf to cover a determination to do nothing," he said.
Mr Turnbull has vowed to cross the floor to support the Rudd government's ETS legislation when it is reintroduced to parliament early next year.
Mr Abbott maintains the scheme isn't popular in the community. And he accused Kevin Rudd of "running scared" after the prime minister snubbed a challenge from the Liberal leader for a series of debates on climate.
"He knows that the general public are increasingly sceptical," Mr Abbott told ABC radio.
"Something like 80 per cent of the Australian people say that they don't have enough information and that's code for they don't really understand it and I think that the public won't vote for something that they don't understand and that is what Mr Rudd is frightened of."
The latest Newspoll suggests the public is willing to give Mr Abbott a hearing, at least. In the better PM stakes, Mr Abbott debuted at 23 per cent, up from the last 14 per cent rating for Mr Turnbull. Mr Rudd had his percentage cut five points to 60 per cent.
The Liberal Party increased its primary vote by four points to 34 per cent.
On a two-party preferred vote, however, Labor remained far ahead on 56 per cent compared to 44 per cent for the coalition.
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