People Want To Know When Gladys Berejiklian Wants To Talk About Climate Change
Pushed on the link between climate change and the NSW bushfires, Berejiklian said "not today." So when?
The Australian government generally — and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in particular — have spent a lot of time trying to make “climate change” a dirty phrase.
According to Berejiklian, there’s a time and a place to discuss the environmental devastation sweeping Australia. And that time is never, and that place is nowhere.
At least, that’s the message that the Premier imparted when she told the press that conversations about climate change where improper, as part of a discussion about the fires sweeping NSW.
When asked about the link between the two, Berejiklian offered only two words: “Not today.”
“Not today!” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reacts to a reporter asking PM Scott Morrison about his plan for climate change. @newscomauHQ #bushfire
— James Hall (@James_P_Hall) November 10, 2019
Well, it’s been over two weeks since that comment now.
So, Australians are very excited to find out exactly which day the Premier reckons is suitable for a discussion of the link between a warming planet and an increase in the extremity and length of bushfire season.
A reporter asked Gladys Berejiklian a question about climate change at today's presser and her response was "Honestly, not today."
Sorry @GladysB… but indeed, today. And every day from now on. Don't imply that others lack moral fortitude when, on this issue, you have none.— Adam Zwar (@adamzwar) November 10, 2019
Gladys Berejiklian, the face of liberal party environmental destruction and mass koala deaths. Gladys:” Dont worry, they didn’t all die in the fires!” #BerejiklianBushfires #koalakiller pic.twitter.com/dHsNtVN7QG
— Snulch (@SnulchArtStuff) November 22, 2019
Unless Gladys Berejiklian is at the front line with a fire hose in hand, yes, today is the day to fire off all those questions about climate change and budget cuts of $78 million to fire services. #auspol
— Eddy Jokovich (@EddyJokovich) November 11, 2019
Over on Twitter, Australians are counting down the days since Berejiklian told the country that the conversation would be staved off, and are pushing for her to finally accept the science in front of her.
That digital charge is being led by Mike Cannon-Brookes, who has taken the Premier to task every single day. More than that, Cannon-Brookes has promised that he won’t stop until Berejiklian finally fronts the facts.
?? @GladysB
15 days ago you said it “wasn’t the day” to talk about the clear links between climate change & bushfires.
You haven’t talked about it in 15 days. I won’t stop asking.
Is today the day? #nametheday https://t.co/VJsiiG85eP
— Mike Cannon-Brookes ???? (@mcannonbrookes) November 25, 2019
It’s an ambitious but necessary effort. After all, the Australian government has spent a lot of time banking on the public to be too distracted to hold them accountable for their climate inaction. Now that the effects of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore, that might very well change.