Peter Dutton insists he ‘believes in climate change’ after refusing to say if impacts of global heating worsening

Opposition leader Peter Dutton initially refused to state whether climate change impacts were worsening, drawing criticism from scientists, environmentalists, and politicians who questioned his commitment to climate action. When pressed, Dutton acknowledged believing in climate change but avoided commenting on whether it exacerbates severe weather events. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and leading environmental groups criticized Dutton's stance, with some offering to brief him on climate science. The CSIRO report highlighted increased pace of Australian weather changes due to human-caused climate change. Dutton's party, the Coalition, is committed to net zero by 2050 but faces internal divisions over climate policies and nuclear power proposals.