Pauline Hanson has clashed with a Greens senator after rubbishing climate change and claiming everyday Australians can’t afford clean energy.
The One Nation leader told South Australian MP Sarah Hanson-Young she was very ‘skeptical’ about the link between pollution and climate change.
‘I’m very skeptical of this (climate change) because the science isn’t there, and that’s been proven,’ Ms Hanson said on Sunrise.
‘Climate is changing, but it’s not from humans Sarah – get this through your head.’
Pauline Hanson (pictured with adviser James Ashby) has clashed with a Greens senator after rubbishing climate change and claiming everyday Australians can’t afford clean energy
Ms Hanson (left) told South Australian MP Sarah Hanson-Young (right) she was very ‘skeptical’ about the link between pollution and climate change
Ms Hanson-Young hit back in disbelief, accusing Ms Hanson of living in ‘La La Land.’
‘Thank goodness most Australian’s disagree with you. Are you really lining up with the tin-foil hat brigade Pauline?,’ she asked.
Interrupting the heated discussion, host David Koch pointed out the government’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel believed in climate change.
But Ms Hanson said everyday Australians were sick of paying enormous power bills, stressing her party would not support the Coalition’s proposed clean energy target.
‘People can’t afford it, it’s putting so much pressure on families and businesses,’ she said.
‘How can a fish and chip shop afford $14,000 a quarter in electricity? How can these pubs in outback Longreach afford $20,000 electricity a quarter? Wake up.
‘We can’t do it at the moment, I won’t see any more people lose their jobs and I won’t see any more businesses shut down because of this.’
Ms Hanson said everyday Australians were sick of paying enormous power bills, stressing her party would not support the Coalition’s proposed clean energy target
Host David Koch pointed out that the government’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel believed in climate change
Taking to social media after the interview, Ms Hanson-Young posted a link to the debate and wrote: ‘On Sunrise this morning Pauline Hanson tells me get it through your head Sarah climate change ‘isn’t because of humans’ #OneNationFail.’
Cabinet on Monday is expected to discuss the government’s new energy policy, including whether to adopt a version of the clean energy target recommended by Mr Finkel.
The coalition party room could examine the proposal on Tuesday.
It follows a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which highlights huge increases in power bills over the past decade.
The report says power which it says is putting unacceptable pressure on Australian households and businesses.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims cautioned the clean energy target was designed to cut emissions, but it was hard to say whether it would also bring down prices.
It was important to understand the trade-offs between the various objectives if the nation was to have an effective energy policy.
‘I won’t see any more people lose their jobs and I won’t see any more businesses shut down because of this,’ Ms Hanson said
‘Thank goodness most Australian’s disagree with you. Are you really lining up with the tin-foil hat brigade Pauline?,’ Ms Hanson-Young said