ANOTHER COSTLY CAPTAIN'S CALL

Mark Butler MP.

Shadow Minister for Environment
 Climate Change and Water

Date:  23 April 2015

Tony Abbott has made another woeful ‘Captain’s Call’, but this one has come at the expense of taxpayers not just his political capital. 

Reports today suggest it was Tony Abbott’s idea to provide $4 million to Danish economist Bjorn Lomborg in an attempt to fund his own campaign against renewable energy and climate change action. 

Dr Lomborg shares Tony Abbott’s views that climate change does not require urgent action and he does not believe in investing in renewable energy, which aligns with Tony Abbott’s recent attacks on Australia’s renewable energy industry. 

In fact, Tony Abbott endorsed Dr Lomborg’s views in his book, Battlelines. 

“This is a complete misuse of taxpayers’ money,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change Mark Butler said. 

“Tony Abbott is using public funds to legitimise his own campaign against action on climate change. 

“It’s yet another appointment that suits his personal interests as opposed to the nation’s interests.” 

“This money could have been redirected to the higher education sector, it could be reinvested in Australia’s renewable energy industry, it could be used to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“But instead, Tony Abbott is funding his own crusade against climate change action.”Tony Abbott has made another woeful ‘Captain’s Call’, but this one has come at the expense of taxpayers not just his political capital.