John Howard’s decision to rule out significant cuts in Australia’s soaring greenhouse pollution shows how dangerously out of touch he is with the Australian community and Australian businesses.

Climate change is a clear and present danger to the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu and to our water supplies.

Australian businesses understand the need for urgent action to cut Australia’s soaring greenhouse pollution. Business needs the investment certainty that comes from a long term target to reduce emissions.

John Howard wants to see compelling evidence to support Labor’s call for 60% cuts in Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 2050 and a national emissions trading scheme.

He should read the report of the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change, which has been sitting on his desk since April.

The Business Roundtable, which includes BP, Westpac, IAG, Visy, Origin Energy and Swiss Re, demonstrated that:

“Australia can deliver significant reductions at an affordable cost. Furthermore, the longer we delay acting, the more expensive it becomes for businesses and for the wider Australian economy.”

Australia’s leading businesses are saying “climate change is a major business risk and we need to act now”.

John Howard should start listening to Australian businesses, CSIRO, the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Australian community rather than his Flat Earth Industry Minister, who still denies humans are changing the earth’s climate.