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Stop trying to save the planet, Matthew Canavan tells Queensland government Stop trying to save the planet, Matthew Canavan tells Queensland government
(2 days later)
Federal minister attracts ridicule after he says state should ‘concentrate on saving jobs today’ instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050
Michael Slezak
Thu 13 Jul 2017 01.16 BST
Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 17.44 GMT
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The federal resources minister, Matthew Canavan, has attracted a slew of criticism after attacking the Queensland government for trying to “save the planet in 2050”.The federal resources minister, Matthew Canavan, has attracted a slew of criticism after attacking the Queensland government for trying to “save the planet in 2050”.
On Tuesday, Queensland announced it would aim to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The announcement was far from radical, with identical pledges already made by the Coalition-led New South Wales government, as well as Labor-led Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.On Tuesday, Queensland announced it would aim to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The announcement was far from radical, with identical pledges already made by the Coalition-led New South Wales government, as well as Labor-led Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
But the move attracted the ire of Queensland-based Canavan, who tweeted: “Instead of trying to save the planet in 2050 the QLD labor should just concentrate on saving jobs today!”But the move attracted the ire of Queensland-based Canavan, who tweeted: “Instead of trying to save the planet in 2050 the QLD labor should just concentrate on saving jobs today!”
Instead of trying to save the planet in 2050 the QLD labor should just concentrate on saving jobs today!Instead of trying to save the planet in 2050 the QLD labor should just concentrate on saving jobs today!
People on Twitter had a field day.People on Twitter had a field day.
Many attacked the short-sightedness of Canavan’s suggestion.Many attacked the short-sightedness of Canavan’s suggestion.
instead of trying to avoid the cliff we're heading for we should just concentrate on going as fast as we possibly caninstead of trying to avoid the cliff we're heading for we should just concentrate on going as fast as we possibly can
Comments like this epitomise the short-sighted political era we live in! There is #noplanetBComments like this epitomise the short-sighted political era we live in! There is #noplanetB
Matt, poppet, of the very many dumb things that we regularly hear from you, this really has been one of the dumbest.https://t.co/AJqABlYoxuMatt, poppet, of the very many dumb things that we regularly hear from you, this really has been one of the dumbest.https://t.co/AJqABlYoxu
Some pointed out the seemingly selective focus of the government’s concern for “intergenerational theft”, which it spoke a lot about when attacking the budget deficit under Labor.Some pointed out the seemingly selective focus of the government’s concern for “intergenerational theft”, which it spoke a lot about when attacking the budget deficit under Labor.
Not a big fan of intergenerational equity, are you Minister.Not a big fan of intergenerational equity, are you Minister.
Meanwhile, it was unclear to many on Twitter why taking action on climate change and growing employment today would be seen as mutually exclusive aims.Meanwhile, it was unclear to many on Twitter why taking action on climate change and growing employment today would be seen as mutually exclusive aims.
pic.twitter.com/Kg5nllMKlNpic.twitter.com/Kg5nllMKlN
You are captured by a binary mindset. Try doing both by supporting renewables that actually employ more people. Think ... don't just react'You are captured by a binary mindset. Try doing both by supporting renewables that actually employ more people. Think ... don't just react'
But luckily anyone with an understanding of economics knows that's not the choice. Handful of jobs in Adani, tens of thousands on the Reef.But luckily anyone with an understanding of economics knows that's not the choice. Handful of jobs in Adani, tens of thousands on the Reef.
Although Queensland’s announcement was unlikely to have much impact on Adani’s plans to build Australia’s biggest coalmine in the state, many people pointed out that coalmining produced relatively few jobs compared with those threatened by climate change.Although Queensland’s announcement was unlikely to have much impact on Adani’s plans to build Australia’s biggest coalmine in the state, many people pointed out that coalmining produced relatively few jobs compared with those threatened by climate change.
Dear Matthew #Adani will kill as many coal jobs as it creates, not to mention lost tourism jobs #nojobsonadeadplanet https://t.co/bnFl197uVWDear Matthew #Adani will kill as many coal jobs as it creates, not to mention lost tourism jobs #nojobsonadeadplanet https://t.co/bnFl197uVW
Craig Kelly, the Liberal MP who chairs the Coalition’s backbench energy committee, was also criticised after he claimed renewable energy would lead to people dying of cold because it was pushing up energy prices.Craig Kelly, the Liberal MP who chairs the Coalition’s backbench energy committee, was also criticised after he claimed renewable energy would lead to people dying of cold because it was pushing up energy prices.
Matthew CanavanMatthew Canavan
Australian politicsAustralian politics
Greenhouse gas emissionsGreenhouse gas emissions
Renewable energyRenewable energy
Queensland politicsQueensland politics
QueenslandQueensland
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