Abbott 'still in denial' on climate

Tony Abbott's scepticism of climate science has emerged again after the Opposition Leader told a Perth audience there was doubt over "whether carbon dioxide is quite the environmental villain that some people make it out to be".

The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia immediately labelled the comment "ludicrous", while the Government said it proved that climate change denial remained at the core of Liberal Party policy.

'Climate change is real'

Mr Abbott made the remark at an invitation-only community forum at the City of Belmont council chambers in response to a question from a schoolboy on what could be done to combat Perth's dwindling water supply.

Mr Abbott said desalination plants were one solution but created the problem of what to do about the resulting carbon emissions "if emissions are quite the problem that some people say they are".

"I don't think we can say that the science is settled here," he said. "There is no doubt that we should do our best to rest lightly on the planet . . . but having said that, whether carbon dioxide is quite the environmental villain that some people make it out to be is not yet proven.

"I don't think we should assume that the highest environmental challenge - let alone the great, moral, social and political challenge of our time - is to reduce our emissions."

Mr Abbott once described climate science as "absolute crap" but after becoming Opposition Leader in December 2009 conceded human activity was warming the globe.

As recently as last Tuesday, Mr Abbott told Melbourne radio host Steve Vizard: "I've long thought that, all things being equal, adding to carbon dioxide concentrations is going to change the climate."

Mr Abbott told the forum the Government's plan to tax carbon would hit Australians struggling under higher fuel, grocery and household bills and spruiked the coalition's direct action policy to plant more trees and invest in efficient energy.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said Mr Abbott's comments explained why his climate policy was "nonsense".

"Despite his best efforts to convince people that he really does accept the climate science, these comments make clear he has not changed his view," he said.