Friday, November 30, 2007

Australia's New Ministers

Penny Wong has been named as the new federal Minister for Climate Change, with Peter Garrett as Minister for Environment.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong is preparing for talks in Bali.

New federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says next month's Bali talks are critical for setting a path to a new global emissions reduction target. These very important talks will be her first task in her new position.

She's not expecting a post-Kyoto agreement for a few years. On ABC Radio this morning she said that the Bali Summit
"...will set the roadmap for the post Kyoto arrangements and I think Australia's ratification of the Kyoto protocol and the changing of the government's position in Australia will give new impetus to this very important international negotiations."
Climate change has been split from the Environment portfolio held by Peter Garrett.
"I think the way in which the portfolios have been allocated really demonstrates the additional resources, additional effort we want to put into climate change," she said.
"We all know and we've been saying for some time climate change is not only an environment issue, it's a economic issue, it's a health issue and a social issue."

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