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The article stated that she rejected the scientific consensus that the burning of fossil fuels was the main factor behind global warming. She was quoted as saying:
"I believe man has contributed in some way to climate change – the exact extent is probably very minimal"The reporter then asked whether her belief was backed by scientific evidence. She said:
"I don’t believe it goes against the science. There is a lot of science and a lot of contradictory science."All well informed readers will be aware that the science on the causes of climate change is well settled. For Professor Hammond to say that it is contradictory is either a lie or an admission of gross ignorance on the subject; see my page on Why accept climate science?
As mentioned elsewhere on this page I twice attempted to contact Ms Hammond for comment at the time of writing this page. I did not receive a reply.
Well suited for a position in the Federal Liberal front bench
While Professor Hammond's background is in law, surely it strains any thinking person's credulity that with her university background she could be this ignorant of the science around such a fundamentally important subject as climate science.The article in The Australian came out just a few days after tens of thousands of Australian kids, and enormously more in about a hundred countries around the world, seemingly all much better informed than Professor Hammond, took a day off school or university to strike for action on climate change.
Professor Hammond, with her abysmal ignorance or denial of science will be well suited to a position on a Morrison led opposition front bench following the May election.
I have argued elsewhere that to oppose action on climate change is a crime against humanity and that when a person in a position of power knowingly lies to slow action on climate change he or she is a party to the greatest crime in the history of humanity. On present indications, Professor Hammond aims to be one such person.
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Climate science denier Christopher Monckton invited to Notre Dame
Notorious climate science denier Christopher Monckton was invited to speak at Notre Dame back in 2011. Professor Hammond was vice-chancellor at the time, so it seems likely that she would have been the source of the invitation, even if not, she surely would have had to have been consulted and approved the invitation. As vice-chancellor she had a responsibility to inform herself of the facts of climate change science before approving such a controversial invitation. Why did she not?What does this tell us about the federal Liberal party in 2019?
Of course there is no surprise in any one person among the federal Liberals being a science denier, but what is more telling is that this particular science denier was selected by a panel of federal Liberals who must have been aware of her apparently wilful ignorance. It suggests that even in 2019 the party is still dominated by people who are incapable of accepting climate science and the fact that most Australians want action to reduce climate changing emissions.|
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Is Professor Hammond making a choice she will regret?
I have asked on another page on this site "Why would you do that?" Why would anyone choose to go down in history as a liar and a criminal by dishonestly trying to stop desperately needed action to reduce the climate change disaster? Are the very temporary and selfish gains worth it? Surely there are more important things in life than income and position; things such as contribution to one's society and ethical standards?Professor Hammond contacted for comment
I sent a Facebook message to Professor Hammond informing her of this page and inviting comment on 2019/03/19.After not receiving a response I contacted Professor Hammond in a Facebook message again on 2019/03/22.
As of 2020/08/22 I had not received any reply from Professor Hammond. Perhaps this is not surprising as it would be very hard for her to explain her ignorance on climate change, if it is ignorance, considering her eleven years as a university vice-chancellor.
On 2022/01/10 I contacted Ms Hammond again, this time via her parliamentary email address (Celia.Hammond.MP@aph.gov.au). I suggested that if she found anything inaccurate in this page she could correct it. Professor Hammond did reply, and apologised for having missed my previous attempts to contact her. Significantly she wrote:
"I share concerns about the impact of climate change on our environment – now and in the future. I am of the view that we have a responsibility to protect our environment for future generations and it is essential that all Australians play a part in reducing greenhouse emissions. I am strongly in favour of (and advocate for) positive, responsible, evidence-based and effective steps being taken to reduce our emissions and increase the use of renewable and clean energy - both individually and as a country. In short, the selected quotes attributed to me in the Australian in 2019 do not accurately reflect my view."I note that she didn't say that she was misquoted in The Australian. In light of this apparent contradiction, how can I, or anyone, know what her true position is on climate change science?
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As ignorant as Pauline Hanson?
By claiming that the present catastrophic and unprecedented rate of climate change has nothing, or very little, to do with Man's activities Professor Hammond has placed herself in a group of very ignorant people that notably includes Pauline Hanson.
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Ms Hammond loses her seat to Kate Chaney
Ms Hammond lost what was her "safe Liberal seat" to teal independent Kate Chaney in the May 2022 election, and I doubt that there has ever been a more justified change of seat holder.I congratulated Ms Chaney shortly after the election and I heard and saw her speak at the World Renewable Energy Congress at Murdoch University on 2022/12/06. The difference in honesty, environmental credibility and ethical standards between the two struck me as like the contrast between black and white. While Ms Hammond seems to have been a typical climate science denying Liberal party hack, or at best, ambiguous in her stance, Ms Chaney is doing her best for the future of the planet and is not beholden to any political party - a true independent.