Garret coal comments criticised

Comments by Peter Garret, Labor's federal environment spokesperson, that Australia's coal is a "blessing" to be utilised, were condemned by climate action group Rising Tide Newcastle on December 12. "Apparently", said Rising Tide's Steve Phillips, "[Garret] regards the cause of the present global climate crisis as a blessing".

"If coal is a blessing, then it is the devil's blessing. Coal has played a major role in bringing planet earth to the brink of climate disaster. If the world continues to rely on coal for energy, then life on earth will be threatened with extinction."

"And Peter Garret is thankful for it! Mr Garret can no longer call himself an environmentalist — he is a disgrace", added Phillips.

From GLW issue 693