Deposed Oz Opposition Leader Refers To Own Coalition's Climate Policy As "Bullshit"

[hatrack]

Former Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has delivered an extraordinary attack on Tony Abbott, describing the central plank of his successor's response to climate change as "bullshit" and saying the party could not be trusted.

In a blog posted on his website this morning, Mr Turnbull has delivered what he describes as "a few home truths" about the "farce" that the Coalition's climate change policy has become. Mr Turnbull lost the leadership of the Liberal Party to Mr Abbott by a single vote in a partyroom meeting last Tuesday.

Mr Abbott has since ditched the party's commitment to the Government's emissions trading scheme negotiated under Mr Turnbull's leadership. The new Opposition Leader says he remains committed to the target of 5 per cent carbon emissions on 2000 levels by 2020, but has ruled out a carbon tax or trading scheme as part of his alternative policy.

"You cannot cut emissions without a cost," Mr Turnbull wrote. "To replace dirty coal-fired power stations with cleaner gas-fired ones, or renewables like wind let alone nuclear power or even coal fired power with carbon capture and storage is all going to cost money." Somebody has to pay, Mr Turnbull declared. "So any suggestion that you can dramatically cut emissions without any cost is, to use a favourite term of Mr Abbott, 'bullshit'. Moreover, he knows it."

EDIT

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/turnbull-blasts-abbotts-bullshit-climate-change-stance-20091207-kdn5.html