Despite scientific proof, Tony Abbott does not believe global temperatures are rising.
''I have pointed out in the past that there was that high year a few years ago, and … if you believe the various measuring organisations, [the temperature] hasn't increased, but again the point is not the science, the point is how should government respond and we have a credible response that will achieve a 5 per cent reduction by 2020 and the government doesn't.''
Mr Abbott was referring to global temperatures in 1998, which coincided with a heat-inducing El Nino cycle, and by some measures was slightly hotter than 2005. However, the same measurements show that the warming trend has continued steadily since the late 1990s.
SOURCE: THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 17 AUGUST 2010