Throughout last night's leaders' debate, opposition leader Peter Dutton's reaction to a question "stunned me," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed. Throughout Wednesday night's debate on ABC, Dutton was questioned about the effect of climate change.
Dutton's home state of Queensland has faced fires, storms, and floods. Host David Speers questioned Dutton if he acknowledged that Australia was already facing the consequences of climate change.
For Dutton, "I think you can experience that there's an effect." In response to Speers' question about whether it had become more serious, he stated, "Well, I'll enable scientists and others to take that assessment."
"You're not willing to claim this is climate change occurring right now?" Speers asked further.
Dutton replied: "I have no idea, David, because I'm not a scientist, and I can't inform you whether the temperature has been high in Thargomindah as a result of climate change or that the levels of water are rising in Thargomindah's most recent flood as a result of climate change." "I think the real response for most people is that they don't know."
Albanese Criticizes Dutton's Stance
However, Speers did not explicitly question Dutton about the historic flooding two weeks ago in the small town of Thargomindah in southwest Queensland.
Regarding Dutton's reaction, Albanese stated during a press conference on Wednesday that it was "one thing that stunned me" throughout the debate.
"I would have assumed that the science is quite explicit on climate change," he claimed.
"I have no idea what it takes to wake the Coalition when a tropical cyclone is prepared for the coastline here in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.
"Despite a decade of denial and delay, it is time that we keep doing to have a government that comprehends the requirement to be part of global action on climate change."
During a post-debate press conference, Coalition spokesperson James Paterson was asked about Dutton's embrace of climate change science.
"He attempts, without a doubt. Our dedication to the Paris Agreement is constant. By 2050, we're discovered to reach net zero," Paterson stated.
Climate Council Urges Action
"It's one of the motives why we're investing $331 billion to transition Australia to emissions-free nuclear strategy."
He declared that Dutton "wasn't remarking about whether climate change led to that specific incident" when he was demanded explicitly about Thargomindah.
"Peter understands the reliability of climate change science. He maintained that. That's what he stated tonight. And it's quite obvious, in my opinion."
Despite the debate, the Climate Council encouraged Dutton to acknowledge urgent briefings from the highest emergency service professionals and climate scientists.
"It's disgusting for a senior political leader to be so out of touch that they declare they 'don't know' the risks Australians are experiencing," claimed Amanda McKenzie, chief executive officer of the Climate Council.
"In 2025, there is no apology for someone fighting to be prime minister not to have educated themselves extensively on the science and effects of the climate crisis."
Two million homes and businesses are now at mild to high risk from rising climate disasters, such as coastal erosion, floods, and bushfires, based on a new analysis released this week by the Climate Council.
"Australians now spend $30 billion more for insurance than they performed ten years ago. People living in high-risk areas of the country are rising, identifying that they cannot get home insurance because it is either not accessible or too costly.