Analysis: Australia’s climate policy is being dictated by a former accountant in a cowboy hat
Two more weeks of Covid-19 quarantine would be too much, Scott Morrison said on Friday, claiming that while there are “a lot of international interests,” the most important audience for his yet-to-be-unveiled climate plan remains at home.”My first and most important group that I need to talk to about our plan is not overseas. It’s right here in Australia,” he said. “It’s talking to people in regional Australia, how the deputy prime minister and I believe our plan will help them in their communities, how our plan will help them realize their future.” With that remark, Morrison made it clear his loyalty lies with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, a cowboy hat-wearing, former accountant who leads the National Party, the Liberal government’s coalition partner — and not with international allies who are urging Australia to take greater action to cut emissions.A poll by Essential Polling released on August 17 found more than 60% of respondents supported providing greater funding for solar power, introducing a carbon levy on polluters and putting in place a net zero carbon emissions target by 2030.ANU professor Stefan said government efforts to reduce emissions in some jurisdictions, such as his home in the nation’s capital, Canberra, had been popular with the electorate.”This is a global problem, and we’re all expected to do our fair share,” he said.Whether Morrison can come up with a plan to balance the competing forces in his coalition remains to be seen.But whatever compromise he can offer will be pored over at length by the international community — and by all Australians with votes to cast the next election. CNN’s Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report.
