Tas van Ommen, principal research scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division, which collects climate data from ice cores, said any definitive statement about global temperatures 2000 years ago was ''completely unfounded''.

He cited the 2007 report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which found that available data from climate records was too sparse to make clear statements beyond about 1000 years ago.

A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott said he thought man made a contribution to climate change, but there was an argument as to the extent and what should be done about it.

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Gus: Tony's aide soothing the idiocy of the man, with a bet each way...

Is it customary for the Leader of the Opposition to reply to the Government Treasurer's Budget report?

I was wondering at the now obvious incompetence of the Joe Hockey "Treasurer" being sidelined by the obviously incompetent Abbott.  Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum?  Scratching or tearing to pieces John?

If it is intended to give some credit to the "Mad Monk" then I would imagine that would be a bad move.  I have noticed that, without the first question of the Opposition being Abbott's during Question Time, I think the rest is to give exposure to the other dumb members of his rabble Cabinet.

Nevertheless, I believe that the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, who has been making the daring statements about the Treasurer's Budget (and even singing into the microphone), would have been expected to reply.  Or is he just a comedian?

This current media character assassination against our Prime Minister is no joke and I can only hope that the Australian people realize that when they have their chance to correct it by their vote.  It should be at least a protest against the dictatorial Murdochracy otherwise their votes will only increase the power of the unelected real government - the media and their selected puppets.

Personally I have found that the media's attacks on Kevin Rudd were orchestrated and blown out of proportion almost as much as the Packer media was when it caused the Dismissal.  To the Rudd’s credit, he has withstood it all and when Kerry O’Brien on the 7:30 report kept using those media concocted stories, the P.M. responded exactly as I would have liked him to do.  He had every right to be passionate about his ETS and he did so, I thought, still in a restrained Aussie way.

They have accused him of being insular and now bad tempered and of being both of the opposites in every characterization.

I guess that the behavior of the Mad Monk's party has become the same rabble as it was as Howard's "New Order" and a Prime Minister who is well educated in every way must irk them terribly.  Have they forgotten Menzies already - now there was a pompous arse and darling of the Corporations.

On this forum we are allowed to speak out, let's hope our fellow Australians think; reason and use their inherent logic to see through the MSM practice of "appointing" our Federal Governments.

Let's watch Abbott's speech tonight.  When he was soundly thrashed by Rudd in the debate - the media either claimed Abbott won or it was a draw!  Fair dinkum.  The "worm" was insulted.

God Bless Australia and all who can read between the lines. NE OUBLIE.