Australian satire or Australian politics

Okay, we've been here a few years now. I should be able to figure this out. But Australian politics baffles me.


Last week Premier Kevin Rudd delayed the launch of Australians Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) , which was meant to have big companies either pay for polluting or trade their carbon credits with more environmentally friendly companies. This was part of a huge initiative--which put Australia among the first to pledge a serious reduction in carbon emissions.

After more than a year to get the policy together, the government had to delay it because they couldn't get enough support to pass it. This was due largely to leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, a global warming skeptic.

As every good minority party leader, he has to demonstrate that this delay is a failure of leadership.But today I was listening to what sounded like a "real interview" with the leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott. It was so funny I couldn't be sure it wasn't an example of subtle Australian humour. (this is a bit of a paraphrase...but you get the idea)

Mr Abbott: "So now the ETS is delayed until 2013. This stuff was so important we had to do something despite the economic crisis, I ask Mr Rudd, Isn't this stuff just going to keep piling up?"
Interviewer: I thought you didn't believe in global warning, so what's the problem?
Mr Abbot: I think global warming is a load of crap...but if its so important now imagine what it will be like in 2013?
Interviewer: (pause) but you don't believe in global warming....Its a load of crap.
Mr Abbot: I do think its a load of crap but it doesn't take Einstein to figure out if let this crap build up in 3 years time its going to be a lot of crap."

I think it was a real politics, but with the Austrlian sense of humour you can never be sure.