Carbon Tax-Axer Greg Hunt Was Somehow Named “Best Minister In The World”

By

Published

February 9, 2016

Environment Minister Greg Hunt last night accepted the newly created “Best Minister In The World” award, and it doesn’t matter how many times you read that, it still sounds like a joke.

But this, dear readers, is nothing even close to satire. It is the Real Deal with a capital RD.

Hunt, the minister credited with approving the expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal next to the Great Barrier Reef and axing the carbon tax is considered to not be just a *good* minister, but is in fact the *best* minister. We repeat: the environment minister. We repeat: in the world.

Greg Hunt’s “genuinely humbled” to be awarded world’s greatest minister. Given his record on #Reef & #globalwarming, I’m genuinely surprised

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) February 9, 2016

The Best Minister In The World award (nope, still doesn’t sound like a real thing) is a new one from the World Government Summit, an annual event “dedicated to shaping the future of government worldwide”; Hunt was chosen from a shortlist of 10, but nominations came from over 80 countries.

“The aim of the award is to recognise innovation in global government work and highlight ministerial initiatives that have resulted in positive changes in their communities,” said chairman of the summit’s organising committee Mohammed Al Gergawi, quoted in Dubai newspaper The National.

Apparently, judges were super impressed with Hunt’s policy work on the Great Barrier Reef – which narrowly avoided an “in danger” listing by the UN last year – and his work in reducing carbon emissions.

The winner of the Best Minister award played a major role in reducing carbon emissions by 93 million tons in Australia. #WorldGovSummit

— Thomson Reuters MENA (@TR_MENA) February 9, 2016

Hunt told Fairfax that he is “genuinely humbled” by the award, but that it’s really an award for Australia, showing that we as a country are a leader in environment policy.

Yeah, okay. Sure mate.

But going back to The National for one bone-chilling moment:

“One of the criteria is for the project or initiative to be transferable – something that can be successfully replicated in other countries,” said Al Gergawi.

Lord help us all.

Source: The National / Fairfax / ABC.
Photo: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty.