Climate change debate alarmist, Nationals MP Michael Johnsen says

Nationals MP Michael Johnsen tells parliamentary hearing there is significant division among scientists over the problem.

Upper Hunter Nationals MP Michael Johnsen.

The NSW parliamentary secretary for agriculture has called the debate over climate change “alarmist” during a budget estimates hearing in parliament, claiming there is significant division among scientists and contention over humanity’s contribution to the problem.

Nationals MP Michael Johnsen made the remarks while being questioned by a parliamentary committee over the impact of climate change and its causes.

Mr Johnsen has been an outspoken critic of aggressive climate change reforms, arguing that they appease city voters at the expense of rural constituents, who will have to contend with the financial hardships they are likely to cause.

He has also previously called for NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean to be stripped of his portfolio, arguing that he wasn’t acting in the best interests of these same constituents. Mr Kean is leading the NSW government’s clean-energy reforms to reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2030.

“I do think it is alarmist, yes,” said Mr Johnsen, when questioned by Labor MP Daniel Mookhey. “I’m happy to point out that I don’t believe in ensuring that we scare the bejesus out of the community by telling them that we’re going to be extinct in 20 years. Such alarmist comments do nothing to further the cause of people doing their best possible work to minimise the impact that we have on this Earth.”

Asked whether he believed mankind was responsible for climate change, Mr Johnsen said it would be impossible to believe humans hadn’t contributed or had “some sort of impact”.

But when pressed on how he saw the scientific consensus, he said: “I think it’s probably fair to say that there is a fair bit of division.”

Shortly after he added: “It’s pretty obvious that there’s contention out there, and you only have to read around you and listen around you as to what’s going on that there’s a level of contention.”

Mr Johnsen said he was committed to supporting the government’s agenda on reducing emissions, however he repeatedly couched this response by reaffirming his position as the parliamentary secretary for agriculture – not as the MP representing the Upper Hunter.

His electorate is concentrated with a kaleidoscope of industries, including open-cut coalmines, vineyards, horse studs, beef producers, and other prime agricultural producers.

“In my capacity as parliamentary secretary assisting the minister in this particular role, I will always support the government’s agenda,” he said. “If the government wants to take steps to achieve its target and then set goals, so be it.”

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall told the committee that he, too, believed in the science of climate change, though like Mr Johnsen he said the role of human contributions remained unclear.

“I accept the science that human activity certainly plays a part,” Mr Marshall said. “There’s various opinions about to what extent.”