The Claim
“Scrapped the Climate coalition.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim contains a terminology error - it refers to the "Climate coalition" when the correct term is the Climate Commission. The Climate Commission was indeed abolished by the Abbott Coalition government in September 2013 [1][2].
The Climate Commission was established in February 2011 by the Gillard Labor government as an independent body to provide "reliable and authoritative information" about climate change in Australia [3]. It was headed by Professor Tim Flannery (former Australian of the Year) and included other commissioners such as Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Professor Lesley Hughes, Professor Will Steffen, and Roger Beale [3]. The commission was projected to cost $5.4 million over four years [3].
On September 19, 2013, shortly after the Abbott government took office, Environment Minister Greg Hunt called Tim Flannery to inform him that the Commission was being abolished effective immediately [1][4]. Professor Flannery was dismissed from his $180,000-a-year part-time position as Chief Climate Commissioner [4].
Core factual assertion: TRUE - The Abbott Coalition government did abolish the Climate Commission.
Missing Context
The claim omits several important contextual elements:
1. This was an election promise: The abolition of the Climate Commission was part of the Coalition's 2013 election platform to dismantle bodies associated with Labor's carbon pricing scheme [1][2]. The government framed this as "streamlining government processes and avoiding duplication of services," stating the Commission's role would be picked up by the Environment Department [1].
2. Other climate bodies also targeted: The Climate Commission was not the only body abolished. The government also moved to abolish the Climate Change Authority (set up in 2012 to advise on carbon price and emissions targets) and attempted to scrap the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (a $10 billion renewable energy investment fund) [1][5].
3. Commission was immediately relaunched: Less than a week after being abolished, the Commission was relaunched as the independent non-profit Climate Council, funded entirely by public donations [3][6]. Tim Flannery stated that Australians "have a right to know - a right to authoritative, independent and accurate information on climate change" and indicated he would continue this work through the new organization [1][6].
4. The Commission had produced significant work: The Commission had released multiple reports, including "The Critical Decade" which summarized climate science and called for urgent action [3]. The Australian Conservation Foundation described it as a "world-leading body in educating Australians about what climate change will mean for us" [1].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source (ABC News) is Australia's national public broadcaster and is widely regarded as a credible, mainstream news organization with professional journalistic standards. The article is factual reporting rather than opinion, featuring direct quotes from Tim Flannery, Greg Hunt's official statement, and perspectives from the Australian Conservation Foundation [1]. ABC News maintains editorial independence and is generally considered a reliable source for Australian political news.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Labor government climate advisory bodies abolished"
Finding: The Climate Commission was itself established by the Gillard Labor government in February 2011 [3]. Therefore, the comparison is one of policy direction rather than similar abolitions:
- Labor established the Commission as part of its climate change policy framework alongside the carbon pricing mechanism introduced in 2012 [3][7].
- Coalition abolished the Commission as part of dismantling that framework.
There is no direct equivalent of Labor abolishing a comparable climate advisory body established by the previous Howard government. However, the Howard government (1996-2007) had not established equivalent climate bodies - the Climate Commission was a new creation of the Labor era.
The broader pattern shows this was a partisan reversal: Labor created climate institutions; the Coalition abolished them. Both actions aligned with their respective policy platforms (carbon pricing vs. direct action).
Balanced Perspective
While critics, including the Australian Conservation Foundation and Tim Flannery himself, argued the abolition was a backward step that threatened to "undo years of progress on climate change action" [1], the Coalition government maintained this was about "streamlining government processes and avoiding duplication of services" [1].
Government justification:
- The Environment Department could absorb the Commission's functions
- Cost-saving measure ($5.4 million over four years budget)
- Part of broader mandate to dismantle carbon pricing infrastructure, which was a core election promise
Key context: This abolition was not unique or unprecedented in the broader context of Australian politics - it represented a partisan policy reversal following an election where climate change was a major issue. The 2013 election saw Tony Abbott campaign heavily on "axing the tax" (carbon tax), and the abolition of associated bodies was part of that mandate [2][8].
The Commission's work continued through the privately-funded Climate Council, which maintained the same commissioners and mission without government funding [3][6].
Comparative analysis: When compared to Labor's approach, this was a fundamental policy reversal rather than an isolated act. Labor built climate institutions; the Coalition dismantled them. Both represented implementation of their respective party platforms rather than abnormal government behavior.
TRUE
8.0
out of 10
The Abbott Coalition government did abolish the Climate Commission in September 2013, shortly after taking office. The claim's terminology is incorrect ("coalition" instead of "Commission"), but the core factual assertion is accurate. This action was part of the government's broader platform to dismantle climate bodies associated with Labor's carbon pricing scheme, which was a central election promise. The Commission was relaunched within days as the privately-funded Climate Council, continuing similar work without government support.
Final Score
8.0
OUT OF 10
TRUE
The Abbott Coalition government did abolish the Climate Commission in September 2013, shortly after taking office. The claim's terminology is incorrect ("coalition" instead of "Commission"), but the core factual assertion is accurate. This action was part of the government's broader platform to dismantle climate bodies associated with Labor's carbon pricing scheme, which was a central election promise. The Commission was relaunched within days as the privately-funded Climate Council, continuing similar work without government support.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (8)
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1
abc.net.au
The head of the Climate Commission, Tim Flannery, has defended the organisation after it was scrapped by the Abbott Government. The Government has abolished the commission as it pushes ahead with its plan to scrap government bodies associated with Labor's carbon pricing scheme and climate change policy. Professor Flannery, who is also a former Australian of the Year, has defended the commission's role, saying it stayed out of politics and stuck to "facts". "I believe that Australians have a right to know - a right to authoritative, independent and accurate information on climate change," he said. "We've just seen one of the earliest ever starts to the bushfire season in Sydney following the hottest twelve months on record."
Abc Net -
2
sbs.com.au
Professor Tim Flannery has been sacked as the head of the Climate Commission as the Abbott government delivers on its promise to dismantle the agency.
SBS News -
3
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
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4
news.com.au
News Com
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5
smh.com.au
The Abbott government has abolished the Climate Commission, which had been established to provide public information on the impacts and potential solutions to global warming.
The Sydney Morning Herald -
6
abc.net.au
A climate science body abolished by the Federal Government has been relaunched as a community-funded organisation.
Abc Net -
7
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
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8
abc.net.au
Australia no longer has a carbon tax, after the Government finally secured enough Senate support to kill it off, fulfilling a key election promise for Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The final vote was won by the Coalition 39 to 32 with the help of the micro-party senators, including those from Palmer United. "It will be good for confidence, the abolition of the carbon tax ... it will be a sign to the Australian people that this is a government which does keep its commitments," Mr Abbott told the ABC's 7.30 program. "Because the price of power is a component of just about every price in the economy; when the price of power falls, other prices should go down as well."
Abc Net
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.