I think you are deceiving yourself and indulging conspiracy theories. Australia has to do its part but you are right we are only a small percentage of global emissions but unfortunately the largest per capita emitter which is bad for foreign policy initiatives.
Not sure where your 1972 epoch come from...
https://science.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/we-dug-australian-weather-records-back-1838-and-found-snow-falling-less-often
In addition to this the science can use ice cores, soil samples etc to estimate ancient weather patterns.
PS. Follow the money is correct. The money runs to fossil fuel companies desperately trying to hang into the status quo. They also put our disinformation to delay green transition.
https://theconversation.com/the-oil-and-gas-industry-has-been-lying-about-global-warming-for-decades-accountability-is-long-overdue-230160#:~:text=The%20committee%20found%20that%20%E2%80%9CBig,against%20climate%20action%20and%20strategically
(20min delay)