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Australian PM dismisses criticism from Greta Thunberg

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday, December 23, 2019 dismissed criticism from Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg that he was not doing enough to combat climate change.

Greta Thunberg
Swedish teenage environmental activist, Greta Thunberg

The 16-year-old activist, who has a global following, used Twitter to slam the Australian government for failing to make the connection between the climate crisis and extreme weather and disasters like the fires that have hit the country.

“Not even catastrophes like these seem to bring any political action.

“How is this possible?” Thunberg Tweeted.

However, Morrison, asked by newsmen about her message, said he would do what was right for Australia’s national interest.

“We’ll do in Australia what we think is right for Australia.

“I’m not here to try to impress people overseas,” Morrison said.

Earlier on Monday, Morrison said that calls in Australia for him to do more to fight climate change in the face of the bushfire crisis were “reckless”.

He said that he would not be “panicked” into taking stronger action.

“We won’t embrace reckless targets and abandon traditional industries that would risk Australian jobs while having no meaningful impact on the global climate,” Morrison noted.

Morrison has long been a strong supporter of the coal industry which is Australia’s biggest export.

Report says three quarters of Australian coal production is exported and is worth 67 billion dollars (46.2 billion dollars) a year.

The Australian leader rejected a call from his deputy and leader of his National Party coalition partner, Michael McCormack, to do more to combat climate change.

“I never panic. I don’t think panicking is the way to manage anything,” Morrison said.

He said that he would not be intimidated by the push to do more to combat climate change which was “politically motivated.”

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