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A severe fire season can now safely be attributed in part to climate change, agree Labor's Pat Conroy and Liberal Andrew Laming, but not individual fires.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt was given a thorough briefing about the effects of climate change on Australia's weather patterns three weeks before he told a BBC radio interview he had sourced information on bushfires and global warming from Wikipedia.

Confidential Bureau of Meteorology briefings, obtained by Fairfax Media through freedom-of-information laws, show senior officials warned Mr Hunt that the extreme heat that baked Australia in 2013 was "unprecedented" before Mr Hunt downplayed any link between fires and climate change in an interview with the BBC's Newshour in October last year.

The initial briefings show officials advised Mr Hunt that recent extreme heat was consistent with "a pattern of global warming", while subsequent advice in November said climate change had increased the odds of "severe weather conducive to severe bushfires occurring".

Firefighters battle a blaze in the Blue Mountains in September, 2013, a month of "unprecedented" high temperatures. Photo: Nick Moir

The documents shatter claims made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who last year dismissed any link between global warming and bushfires, and show the extent to which the government has been advised of climate change's influence on recent extreme weather in Australia.

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Mr Hunt was questioned on Newshour on October 23 last year and appeared to use Wikipedia to defend the Prime Minister's assertionthat United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres was "talking out of her hat" when she said bushfires were linked to climate change.

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Minister warned, then quotes Wikipedia

EXCLUSIVE

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

A severe fire season can now safely be attributed in part to climate change, agree Labor's Pat Conroy and Liberal Andrew Laming, but not individual fires.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt was given a thorough briefing about the effects of climate change on Australia's weather patterns three weeks before he told a BBC radio interview he had sourced information on bushfires and global warming from Wikipedia.

Confidential Bureau of Meteorology briefings, obtained by Fairfax Media through freedom-of-information laws, show senior officials warned Mr Hunt that the extreme heat that baked Australia in 2013 was "unprecedented" before Mr Hunt downplayed any link between fires and climate change in an interview with the BBC's Newshour in October last year.

The initial briefings show officials advised Mr Hunt that recent extreme heat was consistent with "a pattern of global warming", while subsequent advice in November said climate change had increased the odds of "severe weather conducive to severe bushfires occurring".

Firefighters battle a blaze in the Blue Mountains in September, 2013, a month of "unprecedented" high temperatures. Photo: Nick Moir

The documents shatter claims made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who last year dismissed any link between global warming and bushfires, and show the extent to which the government has been advised of climate change's influence on recent extreme weather in Australia.

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Mr Hunt was questioned on Newshour on October 23 last year and appeared to use Wikipedia to defend the Prime Minister's assertionthat United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres was "talking out of her hat" when she said bushfires were linked to climate change.

Read more from the original source:
Hunt warned about climate before he quoted Wikipedia

Sex Assault Allegations Sanford Rubenstein Fights Claims
Richard French and the RFL panel discuss the news that lawyer Sanford Rubenstein allegedly sexually assaulted a woman after Al Sharpton #39;s 60th birthday party.

By: Richard French

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Sex Assault Allegations Sanford Rubenstein Fights Claims - Video

There were three triple shootings in New York City last week, the last at 4 a.m. Sunday in The Bronx, and not one made the top of the news anywhere.

As opposed to the splash Al Sharptons lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, made when he was accused of raping a ranking executive in Al Sharptons civil rights organization.

This, right after a former top Sharpton aide, Rachel Noerdlinger, severely embarrassed the de Blasio administration by getting caught lying on a key city employment form.

See the common thread here? Al Sharpton, Mayor de Blasios police-commissioner-without-portfolio, had a bad week. Thus, by extension, so did Hizzoner.

So, how long before de Blasio comes to understand that hanging with Rev. Al generates unhappy outcomes?

Like the still reverberating laffaire Noerdlinger?

Itll likely be a while yet. Ten months into his incumbency, the mayor still seems impervious to embarrassment. He doesnt get that when mayors speak, people listen. That words matter. That a statement made today might have to be defended tomorrow.

Take Noerdlinger, now chief of staff to First Spouse Chirlane McCray. Having been Sharptons principal aide and chief trouble-shooter, she seemed purpose-built for de Blasio and McCray.

Theyve established a two-track mayoralty: He as ex-officio, she as co-regent vested with power, perks and a staff that requires a $170,000-a-year chief.

By conventional standards, Noerdlinger seems an odd choice for a sensitive job. She comes with a huge downside among other things, a cohabitating boyfriend with a criminal record that includes manslaughter, drug-trafficking and (just last year) attempted vehicular assault on a New Jersey cop.

Continue reading here:
Why Rachel must go: The bleeding wont stop soon

Csi Crime Scene Investigation season 15 episode 2 "Buzz Kill"
Csi Crime Scene Investigation season 15 episode 2 "Buzz Kill" The CSI team investigates a robbery and fatal shooting at a medical marijuana shop. Watch Csi C...

By: Stone Cold TV Show

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Csi Crime Scene Investigation season 15 episode 2 "Buzz Kill" - Video