According to Queensland Conservation (QC) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), Kevin Rudd has accepted the inconvenient truth of climate change and then given up on solving it. They say he has ignored the science of climate change and let down so many who voted for him at the last Federal election…

“The best science says Australia should set a minimum target of 25-40% by 2020 and a majority of the people support this approach (Thermometer Survey shows 63% of people in favour),” said Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director of QC.

“With a stroke of the pen, the Rudd Government is condemning Australia’s World Heritage Great Barrier Reef to a certain death. This is a devastating decision for all people who love, visit and work on this our greatest national icon,” said Craig Bohm, Campaigns Director of AMCS.

“When people voted in ’07 it was for a government that was going to help solve climate change, not give up at the first hurdle,” said Hutcheon.

“Kevin Rudd knows this is not good enough and that the only outcome is a loss for this country- for the environment, for the economy and for our way of life,” said Hutcheon.

“The Australian people have a right to expect more from their leaders. It’s time to stand up for the truth no matter how ‘inconvenient’ to big business“.

“Economies come and go, but extinction is forever.” said Hutcheon.

15th December 2008