Tony Abbott’s climate views a danger to our children’s future

Christine Milne: Abbott’s climate stance jeopardises the future of children Lenore Taylor, political editor guardian.co.uk, 6 June 13, Greens leader plans ‘keep the bastards honest’ campaign, casting party as Senate curb on Coalition excesses Milne talks to Guardian Australia The Greens leader, Christine Milne, has suggested Tony Abbott is not fit for leadership because of his stance on climate change, but she is preparing a Democrats-style “keep the bastards honest” election campaign to stop Abbott’s “excesses” in the Senate, on the assumption he will be prime minister.

In an interview with Guardian Australia, Milne said the Liberal leader’s personal politics were threatening the planet. “Tony Abbott has been so irresponsible in terms of addressing global warming,” she said. “He has chosen to jeopardise the future of children, of generations henceforth, of species, by putting his own political perspective ahead of actually addressing global warming.

“I would argue nobody is fit for leadership if they choose to politically exploit an issue which jeopardises the wellbeing of the whole community and the environment into the future,” she added. “That is something for which they have to take personal responsibility.”

The Greens will appeal to voters to deliver them the balance of power in the Senate as a check on an Abbott government.

Asked whether the old Democrats slogan “keep the bastards honest” summed up the Greens’ 2013 election tactics, Milne said: “That’s absolutely right. The opinion polls have been consistent for some months: the country is going conservative and it is pretty clear that there will be an an Abbott government.”

“Our focus is to position the Greens in stopping Tony Abbott getting control of both houses of parliament,” said Milne. “The positioning for the Greens at this election will be: the Greens are the strong alternative voice you need in the Senate to prevent the excesses of an Abbott government.”…..“I think it is much more likely [Tony Abbott] would have control in conjunction with conservative independents [than in his own right] and that would be again a disaster for the country,” Milne said, pointing to independent senator Nick Xenophon’s vote against the carbon pricing legislation and his campaign against windfarms with Democratic Labor Party senator John Madigan….

She vigorously defended the Greens’ opposition to any new coal mines in Australia, even if other countries continued mining.

“It is quite stupid to put all the future of Australia’s wellbeing in the hands of the resource-based industries. That is a dumb strategy. You can’t just sit here and say other people are going to develop their coal mines so we’ll develop our coal mines. The world cannot have that amount of coal being sent to the atmosphere, so we have to leave our coal in the ground and diversify our economy, and that’s why we need to take a lead, and that’s why as a country we are disadvantaging ourselves if we try to stretch out the fossil fuel era when we know damn well it is gone,” she said….

The newly-elected senators take their seats on 1 July 2014. The existing Senate sits until then. There are three Greens senators up for re-election: Sarah Hanson-Young is contesting this election in South Australia, Scott Ludlam in Western Australia and Peter Whish-Wilson in Tasmania. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/05/greens-leader-abbott-jeopardises-children