THE REGION’S lead environment protection body has criticised the LNP Member for Dawson, saying his comments about climate change were ‘flippant’.
Whitsunday Conservation Council (WCC) says Andrew Willcox MP was recently appointed to a new Coalition working group focused on energy and emissions policy.
“He was asked by a reporter to give a simple explanation of climate change for any of his constituents that may not understand it,” WCC president Tony Fontes said.
“His answer was: ‘Well, I’m not the climate change minister, but I believe my version of climate change is when the seasons change’.
“This is not the kind of response one would expect from a Federal MP. Climate change should not be treated lightly,” Mr Fontes continued.
“One can only hope that Mr Willcox actually understands the cause and effect of climate change.”
Mr Fontes said the science was ‘unequivocal and very clear’.
“The earth’s climate is warming,” he said.
“This is primarily caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
“These gases trap heat and cause the planet to warm. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history.”
Mr Fontes said the impacts of climate change were being seen right across the country.
“Across Australia, we are seeing the impacts of climate change including severe drought, severe cyclones, severe floods, severe heatwaves, severe bushfires and the list goes on,” he said.
“If nothing else, the increase in insurance costs owing to the increase of natural disasters should be a red flag to anyone in denial over global warming.
“And flippant comments by the Member for Dawson about seasons changing is not appreciated by people whose homes and livelihoods – whether on the land or on the sea – are being impacted right now by climate change caused by fossil fuel.
“I’m sure many constituents of Dawson were bemused by Mr Willcox’s comment and would have expected him to give an explanation based on credible science agencies like the CSIRO.
“More importantly, what we’d like to hear is how our politicians plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
