PM surveys cyclone damage, commits to climate change boost
Scott Morrison has flagged new measures to combat climate change in next month’s federal budget, admitting natural disasters have tested the nation’s resilience.
The prime minister on Friday continued his charm offensive in Western Australia, addressing a business breakfast in the mining epicentre of Karratha in the stateās Pilbara region.
He was later due to visit an ammonia plant before heading to Kalbarri to inspect the widespread damage inflicted by Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
Morrison said the nation had faced significant challenges, with Seroja preceded by floods and bushfires across much of the country.
āWe have gone through a period in this country where the resilience has been tested,ā he told the function.
āAnd a key focus of the government, and youāll see more of this in the budget and announcements in the weeks ahead, itās about addressing all of those practical issues.
āThere are things we can and must do to address Australiaās climate challenges.ā
Morrison said reducing emissions could not come at the expense of the resources industry, which he hailed as the backbone of the national economy.
He said companies such as Andrew Forrestās Fortescue Metals Group were showing leadership with their drive towards using renewable energy to power their operations.
Fortescue has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, exceeding Australiaās goal of āpreferablyā reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
āWhat we have to be able to do in meeting that challenge is demonstrate how we can do that and ensure that the heavy industries that exist in our country are part of that solution,ā Morrison said.
āAnd that theyāre there in 2050, and not just there but stronger than they are today.
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āOne of the genuine concerns that people around the country have about those type of commitments is that they see it being achieved at the expense of these sorts of jobs and industries.
āMy commitment is to ensure that we meet these commitments and at the same time and going further, continue to see a stronger heavy industry, whether itās in manufacturing, whether itās in resources or the many other sectors that are so reliant on an energy economy.ā
The prime minister on Thursday night shared a beer with workers at Fortescueās Christmas Creek camp where he stayed the night.
He attended the morning shift changeover at the mineās ore processing plant on Friday morning and was invited by Mr Forrest to join in with daily stretching exercises to the strains of Jimmy Barnesā Working Class Man.
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