It was Joe Hockey who first flagged that the Coalition had a $70b funding black hole.
Since that time Tony Abbott has made some great big extra commitments [btw, I do acknowledge that some of his great big commitments are nothing more than hollow plans to get white papers done].
But there's more, much more!
According to the Climate Institute report published today Abbott's also made a meal of how much his 'Direct Action Plan' will cost. Remember, that 'plan' only targets a 5% improvement!
"... The Climate Institute report, which was based on modelling by Sinclair Knight Merz-MMA and Monash University's Centre of Policy Studies, found the Coalition would need to spend between $4 billion and $15 billion to meet Australia's pledge to cut carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020. ..."
Someone with half a brain would not have made such a gross error, so what has the Coalition's response been:
"... Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt as "one of the silliest reports" he has ever seen. Mr Hunt has also declared the Climate Institute "a clear partisan political organisation" which backs the ALP...."
Fair dinkum, when the political faeces hits the electoral fan the response from Abbott & Co with their undies round their knees is to denigrate research and make allegations of conspiracy theories.
Now we shouldn't be surprised by that response. When it comes to trashing the work of researchers and scientists the Coalition has form. As to reacting negatively and destructively; well that's in Abbott's DNA!
