Greenies cop flak over cyclone ‘propaganda’ claim
Queensland coal king Nick Jorss has accused the Climate Council of using the impending arrival of Cyclone Alfred in Brisbane to fuel political propaganda.
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The Climate Council has been accused of using the impending arrival of Cyclone Alfred to fuel political propaganda.
In a social media posting, the council said as cyclones and tropical storms grow stronger, “the science is clear — climate pollution is warming our oceans and fuelling more intense storms.” “The relentless burning of fossil fuels means we’re witnessing a rise in extreme weather events that impact us all. Our heart goes out to everyone in the path of Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” it said.
Queensland coal baron Nick Jorss was among those clapping back at the council asking: “why are you trying to make political hay out of this difficult situation?”
“Alfred is not at all unusual in a historical sense,” said the chairman of Bowen Coking Coal. “Please don’t demonise our workers and communities for the political gains of your big renewable funder.”
Last year Jorss founded a new lobby group, Coal Australia, to shift the narrative about the industry and reframe coal as pivotal to Australia’s prosperity.
Jorss was not alone in criticising the council, with others accusing it of scaremongering and spreading misinformation.
It may be unusual to have a cyclone this far south but it’s not unprecedented
The 1974 and 1893 floods of Brisbane were created by tropical cyclones and many more have made their way close to Brisbane.
Tropical cyclone Oma in February 2019 caused gale force winds, abnormally high tides and large surf about the southeast Queensland coast, northern New South Wales coast and Lord Howe Island.
Just like a man
Albert has rained on the parade of International Women’s Day, with the Ladies Who Long Lunch event at Victoria Park cancelled on Friday.
A women in manufacturing breakfast also was cancelled along with a women in agriculture high tea as Bacchus restaurant at South Bank on Saturday. The arrival of Cyclone Alfred also has forced the cancellation of a slew of other business events across the city.
The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is gearing up for a record year, closed its doors on Thursday and successfully rescheduled or postponed impacted events.
“We’ve been closely monitoring updates from the Queensland Government and emergency services regarding Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” says general manager Kym Guesdon.
“In the lead-up to this significant weather event, our team has worked closely with all clients holding events over the affected period.” Guesdon says there will be an update on when the centre will reopen later in the week.
Staying put
Queensland Pacific Metals corporate affairs manager Digby McLeay tells your diarist he is bunkering down at Nudgee Beach to ride out the cyclone.
McLeay in his younger days was a scribe for The Courier-Mail and “remembers covering flooding as a journo at in the 1970’s.” McLeay says he is not quite on the beachfront but can expect a decent amount of wind as Alfred crosses Moreton Bay.
All at Sea
Spotted in the undercover carpark at Coles Ascot on Wednesday was a motor vehicle towing a trailer complete with tinny. Not sure where he was heading but obviously hooking up some supplies before the big blow hit.
Originally published as Greenies cop flak over cyclone ‘propaganda’ claim
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