Opposition leader Peter Dutton stated he “believes in climate change” after facing backlash for his comments during a debate where he hesitated to attribute worsening climate impacts to global heating, prompting criticism from climate scientists and environmentalists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized Dutton’s remarks, suggesting a lack of basic scientific understanding, while leading climate groups expressed alarm over his reluctance to acknowledge the severity of climate change effects. Despite Dutton’s commitment to net zero by 2050, fractures within the Coalition remain, with some members skeptical of climate action and nuclear plans deemed inadequate by the Climate Change Authority.
