You posted; "... Australia now a pariah in the developed world because it has stepped away from the whole climate change issue. ..."
Australia's record as a shining example of cutting edge democracy at work in a very troubled world has certainly taken some bruising body blows. We are now at serious risk of losing a lot of international goodwill towards us:
. Tony Abbott's decision to fly in the face of international efforts to better address human induced global warming; denigrating the work of scientists, knee-capping the CSIRO and even refusing to appoint a Minister for Science.
. Abbott's decision to slash foreign aid from $9.5b to just $5b.
. Abbott's decision to praise Sri Lanka at CHOGM knowing full well other nations were protesting the allegations of serious human riots violations extending ato war crimes; even gifting them naval patrol boats.
. Abbott's extreme hard line against asylum seekers; labelling them "illegals".
. Abbott's very public demands of Indonesia to stop the boats followed by his inept response when reports of spying against SBY and his family became public.
All of this is after Australia managed to negotiate the ravages of the GFC better than any other developed nation!
This is indeed a dreadful and inept start to Abbott's term in government. It's without precedent in our history.
