'Don't give a damn': David Attenborough's scathing criticism of Australia
Championed environmentalist and natural historian Sir David Attenborough has delivered scathing criticism of Australia’s climate damage and Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approach to it.
Speaking on the Triple J Hack program Sir David said historically Australian leaders had “said all the right things” but recently, under Mr Morrison’s leadership, the tables had turned in the worst way.
“You are the keepers of an extraordinary section of the surface of this planet, including the Barrier Reef, and what you say, what you do, really, really matters,” he told host Tom Tilley.
“And then you suddenly say, 'No it doesn't matter ... it doesn't matter how much coal we burn ... we don't give a damn what it does to the rest of the world’.”
Asked about the piece of coal Mr Morrison, who was treasurer at the time, brought into Question Time in February 2017, the English broadcaster said he was not amused.
Mr Morrison claimed the stunt was a “joke”, but Sir David wasn’t laughing then, and he most certainly isn’t now.
“I don't think it was a joke. If you weren't opening a coal mine okay I would agree, it's a joke. But you are opening a coal mine,” he said.
Mr Morrison’s recent federal election win was also a sore spot for the famed presenter, given he was openly supportive of new coal mines including Queensland’s proposed Adani site.
The prime minister opted not to attend the UN Climate Change Summit Tuesday morning despite being in New York.
The prime minister’s policies were also less of focused on reducing emissions, compared to his opposition.
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Sir David said responsibility lies in the hands of not only Mr Morrison, but of those in positions of significant power like “bankers and big business”.
“In the end, the long-term future lies in having a healthy planet. And unless you do something about it ... you're going to lose your money,” he argued.
The full episode will air at 5:30pm Tuesday on Hack.
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