Seems like little Johnny has been watching reruns of yes Minister.
How to discredit an unwelcome report:
Stage One: Refuse to publish in the public interest saying 1. There are security considerations. 2. The findings could be misinterpreted. 3. You are waiting for the results of a wider and more detailed report which is still in preparation. (If there isn't one, commission it; this gives you even more time).
Stage Two: Discredit the evidence you are not publishing, saying 1. It leaves important questions unanswered. 2. Much of the evidence is inconclusive. 3. The figures are open to other interpretations. 4. Certain findings are contradictory. 5. Some of the main conclusions have been questioned. (If they haven't, question them yourself; then they have).
Stage Three: Undermine the recommendations. Suggested phrases: 1. 'Not really a basis for long term decisions'. 2. 'Not sufficient information on which to base a valid assessment'. 3. 'No reason for any fundamental rethink of existing policy'. 4. 'Broadly speaking, it endorses current practice'.
Stage Four: Discredit the person who produced the report. Explain (off the record) that 1. He is harbouring a grudge against the Department. 2. He is a publicity seeker. 3. He is trying to get a Knighthood/Chair/Vice Chancellorship. 4. He used to be a consultant to a multinational. 5. He wants to be a consultant to a multinational."
"To suppress an internal government report, rewrite it as official advice to the Minister. Then it is against the rules to publish it, so you can leak the bits you want to friendly journalists."
And here are his latest comments:
CANBERRA, Nov 8 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard says the economic predictions of the Stern Report into climate change will increasingly be questioned. "I think as time goes by, some of the economic underpinnings of the Stern review are going to be continually and increasingly questioned," Mr Howard told reporters. Mr Howard has long been critical of some of the harsher assessments of global warming. He has previously warned against people being mesmerised by the British government-funded Stern Report. Among the report's dire economic warnings on climate change is that global warming could cost as much as the world wars and the Great Depression. Sir Nicholas Stern's report also warns the worst outcome of climate change could result in global consumption falling by 20 per cent. Mr Howard described the review as "another report". "We should not get mesmerised by one report," Mr Howard said. "But I do accept that we need to take steps, take out insurance, be certain that we do reduce greenhouse gas emissions." However, Mr Howard maintained his support of Australia's massive coal industry. "I'm certainly not going to target the coal industry ... because that would do great damage to the economy of this country," he said. "One thing I am frozen in time about and that is a determination to protect the industries of this country that give us a natural competitive advantage."
