Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today called the Report and Dissenting Report on geosequestration from the House Standing Committee on Science and Innovation a deliberate two-pronged attack on effective climate change solutions whilst opening the chequebook to the coal industry.

Senator Milne said "Today we've seen a two-pronged attack designed to scuttle fast, effective and safe climate change solutions from both the Government and the ALP.

"First, the Majority Report from both the Government and the ALP acknowledges that geosequestration is unproven, has yet to be costed and has no-one willing to put up their hand to accept long-term liability.

"And yet, the Labor and Liberal MPs recommend giving a blank cheque to the coal industry to go ahead and build one or more of these unproven and risky ventures.

"Meanwhile, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, which have long ago proven themselves to be effective, affordable, safe and market-ready, are forced to jump through hoops to get the funding scraps from the table.

"In the second prong of the attack, several of John Howard's favoured backbenchers used the unlikely forum of the House Standing Committee on Science to cast doubt on the settled science of climate change, justifying the 'go slow' approach of both old parties.

"Dennis Jensen, who led the dissenters, owes John Howard his political life, since the Prime Minister personally intervened to rescue him after he was dumped at preselection by his own party. Mr Howard obviously finds it useful to have a climate sceptic and nuclear power enthusiast on his backbench, even though the Tangney branch of the Liberal Party don't like it.

"Could anyone seriously believe that Dennis Jensen would not have discussed his Dissenting Report with his Prime Minister? If Mr Howard did not find it useful to promote climate scepticism in his government, he would undoubtedly have pulled Dr Jensen into line.

"Put together, this is a disgraceful attack, slowing down even further the real, fast and effective solutions to climate change in energy efficiency and renewable energy."