THE CLIMATE COUNCIL is calling on the Federal Government to release its greenhouse gas emissions data, after it failed to share the information with the Australian public last week.
"The Government is obliged to share this very important information with the public. And it was supposed to do this last Friday. The only thing we can conclude is that emissions are continuing to rise, as they have done under the Coalition Government for the past four years," said the Climate Council's CEO, Amanda McKenzie.
"The Coalition Government has a history of burying bad news on climate change. It has repeatedly released data when it is unlikely to draw significant attention. We've seen emissions data released on Christmas Eve and late on a Friday afternoon ahead of football grand finals," said Ms McKenzie.
Last year, the Senate passed an "order of continuing effect" compelling the Government to release the quarterly data on a regular basis.
"The Federal Government has failed to produce a credible climate and energy policy, which is why Australia's pollution has been going up and up," said Ms McKenzie.
The ongoing burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are primarily responsible for Australia's rising greenhouse gas emissions. The expansion of LNG is also a significant factor.
"Australia is facing a climate crisis, with worsening extreme fire and heat, and sea level rise threatening coastal property. Recent research showed that half a billion dollars could be wiped off the property market in a decade if the government continues to bury its head in the sand," said Ms McKenzie.
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