"Whilst the US accepted with good grace that Australia had signed on to the Kyoto Protocol, during his speech to the conference Mr Rudd had a swipe at the US," Mr Hunt, opposition climate change spokesperson told ABC radio today.
"The result was that the talk of the conference was that the US had drawn back from Australia, that we had lost our leverage, the work that we were able to do with them in APEC had been pushed away.
"So we had less influence and less leverage and they (United States) were to a certain extent more isolated as a result."
Monday, December 17, 2007
Rudd's Diplomatic Error
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Rudd 'risks climate negotiations with US'
from news.com.au
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has jeopardised future negotiations with the United States on climate change, the Federal Opposition said.
The White House yesterday expressed "serious concerns" with the Bali climate change roadmap to negotiate cuts of between 25 and 40 per cent by 2020.
The weekend deal was struck after the US compromised at the UN climate change talks.
Australia was praised for taking a leading role in the final negotiations.
But Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt has accused the prime minister of jeopardising future climate change negotiations with the US.
"Whilst the US accepted with good grace that Australia had signed on to the Kyoto Protocol, during his speech to the conference Mr Rudd had a swipe at the US," Mr Hunt told ABC radio today.
"The result was that the talk of the conference was that the US had drawn back from Australia, that we had lost our leverage, the work that we were able to do with them in APEC had been pushed away.
"So we had less influence and less leverage and they (United States) were to a certain extent more isolated as a result."
MR RUDD MUST EXPLAIN HIS PLAN TO USE THE DEFENCE FORCE TO MONITOR WHALING
The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP
14 December 2007
Media Release
MR RUDD MUST EXPLAIN HIS PLAN TO USE THE DEFENCE FORCE TO MONITOR WHALING
Mr Rudd’s plan to use the Australian Defence Force to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet raises more questions than it provides answers.
The Federal Coalition stands shoulder to shoulder with the government in opposing the whale hunt, but before any action involving military assets and personnel is taken, Mr Rudd must answer the following questions;
• To what extent would sending military assets unnecessarily escalate diplomatic tensions with Japan, Australia’s ally for 60 years and one of our major trading partners?
• Would this be an appropriate and necessary use of Australian Defence Force assets?
• How would our military act were it to witness illegal acts or breaches of the laws of the sea?
• What impact would the deployment of Navy and Air Force assets have on Defence operations on Australia’s northern borders, elsewhere in the region and further afield (including the Middle East).
• Is sending Navy and Air Force to watch whales in the southern oceans the most suitable and operationally appropriate response?
I hope Mr Rudd knows what he is doing.
His plan may have consequences that must first be fully understood.
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