THE HON CHRIS BOWEN MP

SHADOW TREASURER
MEMBER FOR MCMAHON
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE
CHANGE AND WATER
MEMBER FOR PORT ADELAIDE
MEDIA RELEASE
HOCKEY IGNORANCE ON SHOW FOR WORLD LEADERS
The Australian Treasurer has displayed his utter disregard and ignorance
for the importance of tackling climate change to the global economy, in
direct contrast to the views of the worlds most powerful political leaders.
In an interview on ABC this morning, Joe Hockey rejected the views of
United States President Barack Obama, United Kingdom Prime Minister
David Cameron, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and others
that climate change is a major economic challenge for the world to
address immediately.
Yesterday, President Obama said as the developing world continues to
develop, we need to address climate change. He referred to the historic
agreement between the United States and China to reduce their emissions
and move towards a cleaner economy.
In a historic step China made its own commitment for the
first time, agreeing to slow, peak and then reverse the course
of China's emissions And if China and the US can agree on this,
then the world can agree on this, we can get this done and it
is necessary for us to get it done.
President Barack Obama, Address to University of Queensland, 15
November 2014

Yet, Joe Hockey continues to adopt Tony Abbotts head-in-the-sand

approach and refuse to accept the economic challenges presented by a
changing climate:
Barrie Cassidy: Sure but do you accept climate change potentially is
one of the biggest impediments to growth?
Joe Hockey: No. No, I don't. Absolutely not.
ABC Insiders, 16 November 2014
The Treasurer said G20 was about about how we are going to ensure that
our children have jobs in the future and was not about climate change.
Joe Hockeys ignorance is breathtaking, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen
said.
As Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott use G20 to complain about their Budget
problems, the worlds leaders have taken the opportunity to address the
major economic challenges of our time.
There will be no jobs in the future if Australia does not do what is
required to reduce carbon pollution and secure our agriculture and energy
industries in a changing climate.
These comments come as the Abbott Government seeks to reduce the
Renewable Energy Target which has driven 24,000 jobs and abolish the
Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Australian Renewable Energy
Agency which both invest in clean energy technologies.
Australia may be open for business, but only the businesses that dont
offend Joe Hockeys sensitivities to the aesthetic values of clean energy,
Mr Bowen said.
Tony Abbott has long ignored the impacts of climate change on Australia,
with our international guests having a better grasp on Australias
vulnerability to climate change than the Prime Minister.
The impacts of climate change will infiltrate all areas of Australias
economy our agriculture, tourism and health sectors, as well as our
urban planning.
As our major trading partners shift towards clean energy sources,
Australias energy and resources sector will need to adapt, Shadow
Climate Change Minister Mark Butler said.
SUNDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2014