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August 24, 2018

Australia: Climate Change Naysayer Scott Morrison Becomes Prime Minister
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In Australia, conservative Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been
ousted after a bruising leadership fight within the ruling Liberal
Party. Treasurer Scott Morrison will replace Turnbull as the country's
newest prime minister. Morrison is a social conservative who, like
Turnbull, is known for his support for Australia's harsh anti-immigrant
policies. He's also a prominent opponent of efforts to curb catastrophic
climate change. In 2017, Morrison brought a lump of coal to the floor of
Parliament, mocking opposition lawmakers with the words "Don't be
afraid, don't be scared, it won't hurt you. It's coal." Scott Morrison
becomes prime minister as human-induced global warming has brought
soaring temperatures and wildfires to Australia, along with the
continent's worst drought in living memory.


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