NSW is alight, and it is still not the right time to talk about Climate Change!!!!! What message of commitment did we have to give the world community in Madrid? – nothing. You said Australia is reducing its emission year on year. Your own department’s graphics shows this to be untrue. Asserting untruth does not make it true. How is it possible to believe anything you say?
This morning Margaret and I followed RFS advice and evacuated our home at Long Beach in the face of a large fire which will not be extinguished unless it rains. I am finding this emotionally such a challenge. Shouldn’t we stay and fight? At least should we not have stayed alongside neighbours? Most have left but some have stayed. For days we have watched the water bombers fill from the Bay, the air is constantly full of smoke and as I type all the fire sirens are going.
Let me tell you some stories.
One (widow) is staying because her husband built her the house and she wants to defend it.
Another neighbour, an Italian migrant, is choosing to remain. He left Italy because of the disgraceful leadership of Berlusconi. He is surrounded by trees under which nestles his beloved aviary. He will not leave his birds. He has contempt for Berlusconi but his contempt for Morrison is palpable. How is it possible, he asks, that Australia could elect as leader one who must surely know the scientific reality of climate change as well as absorb observable data, but still chooses to pacify his self-serving denialist supporters.
Margaret coordinates volunteers at the recovery station. (Our evacuation was in part to enable her to do this). When I arrived yesterday afternoon, I was almost knocked over by a woman leaving in tears and deep distress. She had apparently offered assistance to a woman who believed her home to be lost, but was unprepared for health and safety rules required of her in doing so. So often rules stop us from more flexibly meeting the needs of people in distress. I was so proud of Margaret for standing up for the woman. I can hardly blame Morrison for this, but what kind of country have we become that bureaucracy wins over compassion. I can blame Morrison for this principle in relation to medivac.
Yes, we are a country of droughts bushfires and flooding rains, but what is happening to us must almost shock scientists who may now feel their predictions are proving to have been on the conservative side.
Over recent years I have been sending messages of support to friends in various parts of Australia when faced with unprecedented climatic conditions. In 2003 we lived in Canberra and I became joint chair of the recovery appeal following the devastating fires. Observing the plight of others, you think you know what it might feel like, but until you are forced out of your own home, you do not really know. What must it be like for the hundreds of thousands world-wide for whom this is a reality, either because of natural disaster, or because of inhumanity?
As a Christian should I be more charitable to Morrison and his government, – less angry. No I do not think so.
Jesus was angry when he entered the temple and was confronted with the money changers, for they were misleading and diminishing the people. Our government is a motely group of money changers. They appear more interested in supporting financial enterprise, no matter its morality, business dealings no matter their environmental impact, trade no matter human rights violations, or budget considerations regardless of social outcomes: that is why it is a disgrace. To add insult to injury the department of environment has now been absorbed into the department of agriculture. If this is too harsh, Morrison, or one of your ministers, give me evidence worthy of an apology from me.
Government continues to insist its major responsibility is to keep Australians safe. Hey, wake up – climate change is our greatest existential threat. It is a far greater threat than terrorism. It is a social threat, it is a grave economic threat and yes, it is an environmental threat. How about you deviate a fraction of the cost of one of your never never submarines to fight a real threat?
We are appropriately lambasted at international forums for our apparent indifference. Morrison you are a disgrace for claiming we are doing much – in the context of our ability and size we’re not, and because we are perceived not to be, we have absolutely no influence in encouraging others to be more responsible.
If the evidence were not in. If we were too poor and therefore could not choose. If action meant putting thousands of Australian jobs at risk. If the task were beyond us for any reason. ——– Then I would understand.
But none are true.
We are in a better position to act than almost any other country in the world
Our not acting, and the world not acting will impact our continent more than any other
The long-term effect of not acting is economic idiocy.
All of this is a disgrace and an indignity inflicted upon all Australians
If my house burns Mr Morrison, you most certainly will be on the end of another blog, Nero developed an unenviable reputation for fiddling while Rome burnt. ‘Fiddling while Rome burns’ does not mean being literally responsible for today’s fires, it is an idiom for referring to a person(s) in power who is prepared to do anything other than what is important.
Bishop George Browning PhD DLitt
Bishop Browning is a retired bishop of Canberra, Initial convener of the Anglican Communion Environment Network and now convener of his local Landcare
George Browning was Anglican Bishop of Canberra Goulburn 1993 – 2008. He was President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network 2013 – 2022. He is now its Patron. He is also Patron of Palestinian Christians in Australia, and of the Palestinian ecumenical liberation theology centre -Sabeel.
Comments
7 responses to “GEORGE BROWNING. Morrison Government you are a disgrace”
The truth of the matter is that Australia depends on our huge export market (and the revenue it raises) for it’s coal and we still depend heavily on coal and gas for our energy. Many large mining companies are Australian, and several millionaires are in the mining business. It would be fine if the LNP acknowledged this and then either did something to transition away from coal mining, or just said they are going to do nothing due the economics of it all. But instead we get this appalling double speak and obsfuscation. Before he left Australia Angus Taylor had Australia’s emissions data ‘reviewed’ and recalculated by his department. This alone is shocking behaviour, but the best his staff could achieve in doing this data shuffle was to make it seem like Australia’s CO2 emission have plateaued. In fact, Australia’s CO2 emissions are still rising. It just depends on what one includes in or leaves out of the data. The fact that a climate change denialist like Angus Taylor is the appointed Emissions Reduction Minister says everything about this Government’s desire to do as little as possible (while making it seem like they are doing everything possible). Taylor has failed to mention this carry over credits ‘trick’ while in Madrid in order to avoid drawing attention and criticism to it. If the carry over credits scheme is disallowed then I wonder what the Government will do. Will it withdraw from the treaty as America is doing? As long as a LNP Government is in power we will do very little on climate change policies.
Spot on, Bishop George, and thank you. You reflect the anger and incredulity of many Australians. The only addition to a fine article is to note that the other existential threat to us all is nuclear weapons, which this government also ignores at our peril. Every time they dare to utter the words “national security” they must be reminded of their gross neglect of our major security risks.
Thank you George. I would like to share your anger and ask why Laura Norder has had a selective use in the Government, and in Gladys’s.
There is a dire problem with the climate emergency on many levels, but no-one in the LNP concedes that the armed services of Laura could help in the bushfires and in other defensive work to save native animals, the national parks, and to prevent more arsonists. The Professional Fire Brigades cannot cope. We know this from the 23 retired chiefs, let alone what the science and today’s Sydney experience shows.
The Army has sturdy boots, and plenty of gas masks or whatever. The Air Force may be being used, secretly.
But Scott, Gladys and the rest of them deny all, there’s nothing to see here. That’s true. None of us could see anything for most of today. Meantime Laura is hauled out to attack the slightest criticism.
If only Mr Morrison were a Christian. Then he might be inclined to listen to a retired bishop.
Thank you for a comprehensive summary of the levels of mendacity and lack of empathy that characterise this group of individuals that call themselves a government. The way the trashing and neutralising of government departments was announced epitomises their lack of morality and duty of care. Announced when much of the country is in crisis and justified on false evidence, lies.
When and what will be the new low point?
Morrison is out of his depth. To be PM is not a picnic and photo op.Like most of the rest of them, Labor NOT excluded they lie and spin propaganda for the n[]benefit and to mask their desire to be good to the vested interests that are ubiquitous today. Australia is not unique, We are all caught up in bad governance. supporting Predatory Capitalism via neo liberal policies. They have run riot over the western world,. worst in the USA, but we are on the same trajectory.
Well spoken, by George!
I was one of the victims of the 2003 Canberra Firestorm, and thank you for your assistance in the recovery effort – which greatly assisted me and my family.
The Prime Minister claims that emissions have been going down, when the Department of Environment and Energy shows emissions are rising (although it obscures the truth by publishing quarterly, not annual results).
The truth on Australia’s Paris Agreement targets are here:
https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/publications/factsheet-australias-2030-climate-change-target
The target is the bar-graph on the left: 441 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (equivalent) per annum. The other two bar graphs are further obfuscations – we did not get additional emissions rightd if the population or the GDF increases.
The latest report of Australia Greenhouse Gas emissions is here:
https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/8d47dec2-cd70-4a67-a7ab-85d67f3d53be/files/nggi-quarterly-update-jun-2019.pdf
More obfuscation, but scroll down to Figure 1 in the Overview and the measure is ~133 million tonnes of CO2 (E) = 532 Million per annum, which is about 20% more than the 441 million tonnes per annum we promised at the Paris COP21.
In summary, I’m reminded of the ditty: ‘Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire’!