Clueless

I mean what else can it be? Does the governor understand the concept of geological time? Does he understand that records only go back 150 years? Does he appreciate that events like this have gone on, unobserved, for thousands of years? Does he understand that the role of governor is above political point scoring? Clearly the answer is no to all of these questions, especially the last, where following Quentin Bryce’s lead, he thinks he can say what he likes. But David de Kretser has form for this. A climate activist, he advocated a carbon tax back in 2009 to “fight global warming” (see here). So it’s little surprise that he, like the odious Bob Brown, rushes to blame climate change for the Victorian floods:

“I’m sorry, I’m one of these believers in climate change I’m afraid and if its [sic] doesn’t get that message out I don’t think its going to go away,’‘ Prof de Kretser told 3AW yesterday. [In other words, “I’m using these events to cynically push my own political agenda” – Ed]

“There’s too many of these events [Too many for you? Going to start controlling nature now, are you? – Ed], not only in Australia but throughout the whole world that are happening now, which everyone says this week (is a) one in 100, one in 200 years (event) but they are happening pretty much more frequently now.”

The Governor, seeming to sense his statement would be controversial, made the comments in relation to both the recent floods and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Government House staff said he was not be available yesterday for any further comment on his position. (source)

That’s the spirit, make controversial statements with no basis whatsover and then hole up in the residence and refuse to face the criticism. But at least Ted Baillieu has called him out:

Premier Ted Baillieu later disagreed with the Governor’s linking of the floods to climate change. ”I don’t think we are in any position to make a comment on that, frankly,” he told The Age.

He said he had been told yesterday that Melbourne Water was now saying Victorians should expect 30 per cent more rainfall in the next 10 years.

”You’ve only got to go back 12 months ago and they were saying Victorians should expect 30 per cent less,” Mr Baillieu said. (source)

More rain, less rain, more drought, less drought, more hurricanes, fewer hurricanes, stronger hurricanes, weaker hurricanes, more heat, more cold – whatever – it’s all climate change.