Fed: Govt won't confirm drought-climate change link

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2007
Fed: Govt won't confirm drought-climate change link

The federal government's still refusing to accept a confirmed link between global warming
and the drought .. but says it's preparing for a drier climate.

The Prime Minister has said before the jury's out on the link .. and he didn't veer
from that stance when he announced severe drought measures today.

JOHN HOWARD says the drought in the Murray-Darling Basin is so bad irrigators won't
receive water allocations in the coming season unless there's heavy rain within eight
weeks.

Mr HOWARD says on the link to climate change .. we've had very severe droughts before
.. but in those times we had smaller populations and less demand.

The PM's been backed by Environment Minister MALCOLM TURNBULL .. who says government
scientists have yet to confirm the link.

AAP RTV pw/cb/mfh/wz/bart

KEYWORD: WATER CLIMATE (CANBERRA)

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