La Nina is to blame the election outcome

I blame the election outcome on la Nina. If the drought hadn't ended, we'd be in a completely different position to be sure.

Of course it's simplistic to say that climate change is to blame for this recently (almost) ended drought. Just the same as it's uncertain whether you can say that the poor snow season, more floods and storms, and bushfires are all evidence of climate change impacts. They may well be, or they may be merely common events. Or somewhere in between.

But the reality is that our nation's journalists are simple folk. They hear scientists say climate change will cause more droughts and bushfires, they see a drought, ergo the drought was caused by climate change. It's rather like the "she's a witch" scene from Monty Python:




But if that is what keeps climate change (and broader environment concerns) on the national consciousness, then I'll take it.

The problem was though, that this little guy known as la Nina came along, sent the other guy el Nino packing back to South America, and ended the drought. And the media has a shorter attention span than the average five year old, and worse memories.

So climate change surreptitiously dropped from the nation's radar, and from the political party focus group discussions, dropped by Kevin Rudd (and Julia!) and - well - here we are.

But in a funny kind of way, perhaps we'll actually get more attention for environmental issues with a minority government? We have a Green MP in Melbourne, and another in Hobart who used to be a Green. And we have three rural Independents. Now say what one will about farmers, in my experience they are often some of the most environmentally aware - and active - "I'm not a greenie but..." people around. You simply can't be a farmer without water.

So perhaps - just perhaps - la Nina's devilish little ploy will backfire, and we'll be left with a government (whomever is anointed by the cross bench) that dare not get serious that climate change "bunch of crap".