Mr Abbott has today again proved why he can’t be trusted on climate change.

After building tonight’s speech up for days, Mr Abbott has presented nothing but ineffective, uncosted, unfunded policies that will do nothing to address climate change or the challenges facing the Murray Darling Basin.

It appears Mr Abbott is again making things up as he goes along, stealing from failed Howard Government policies when he can’t come up with his own ideas.

His ill-informed speech tonight shows just how little he understands the environment and the economy.

It is impossible to protect the environment without effective action on climate change.

Similarly, it is impossible to talk about the future of the Murray Darling Basin without understanding the threat posed to its existence by climate change.

The Garnaut Review estimated irrigated agricultural production in the Murray Darling Basin will drop by over 90 per cent by 2100 due to climate change.

The Rudd Government has legislated to take over planning of the Murray Darling Basin – this is the only takeover that counts. A wholesale federal takeover – as proposed by Mr Abbott - would result in years of litigation, when what the Basin needs is action.

This is an underwhelming first attempt at environment policy from someone who claims to be an environmentalist. You cannot be an environmentalist when you do not believe in climate change.

Australians expect their leaders to face up to the big challenges. Mr Abbott is instead demonstrating a complete failure of leadership.

Mr Abbott now has 19 days to release his detailed and fully costed policy on climate change.