Peter Dutton’s climate doubts spark alarm for impacted Qld communities

Queensland's peak environment group is alarmed at LNP leader Peter Dutton's comments at last night's leaders' debate, which cast doubt on his understanding and acceptance of climate science and its impact on local communities.

Mr Dutton's comments, that he "doesn’t know" whether climate change is making disasters worse, and that he's "not a scientist" demonstrate a disturbing ambivalence over one of the biggest challenges facing our communities now and for future generations.

Queensland Conservation Council Deputy Director Anthony Gough said

Queenslanders are still counting the costs of another summer of unnatural weather disasters.

In South East Queensland, we faced the first cyclone in fifty years and the second significant flood risk in three years. Townsville has already recorded its average annual rainfall for 2025. Western Queensland has just been devastated by more than two years' worth of rain.

Extreme weather has cost Queensland at least $7 billion over the past three years.

The climate crisis is real, its cost is significant, and we need political leaders that understand we need real action on climate to keep our communities safe.

After copping a beating from extreme weather events, Queenslanders deserve better than a shrug of the shoulders and a 'don’t know' from a man who wants to be prime minister.

Peter Dutton may not be a scientist, but he’s had decades to listen to the experts and understand that climate change is escalating, and it needs to be tackled urgently to prevent intensifying disasters.

Taking this threat seriously means a swift transition to renewable energy, investment in climate resilience in communities, and the end of new coal and gas projects.

Polling shows 87% of Australians understand climate change is real and we need to address it, with 57% saying that urgent action is needed to protect communities.

We encourage Peter Dutton to join the vast majority of Australians who understand the science, know climate change is a real and pressing issue, and the time to act is now.

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