Meanwhile, in the Motherland, The Guardian reports:

The UK is to put in place the most ambitious targets on greenhouse gases of any developed country, by halving carbon dioxide emissions by 2025, after a tumultuous week of cabinet rifts on the issue.

Agreeing the targets took weeks of wrangling among ministers, but late on Tuesday afternoon the energy and climate secretary, Chris Huhne, announced to parliament that the “carbon budget” — a 50% emissions cut averaged across the years 2023 to 2027, compared with 1990 levels — would be enshrined in law.

Reaction has been swift, and pertinent. Take this comment from Connie Hedegaard, the European Union’s climate-change chief:

“This is a recognition that to be very ambitious on public spending [cuts] does not mean you can’t be ambitious on climate-change targets.”

And from David Kennedy, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change advising the government on policy:

“This is going to deliver higher [economic] growth for the UK. It could well give us lower electricity prices in the future than our competitors.”

Higher growth. Lower household costs. Within budget. Halving emissions within two decades. And all from a conservative British government.

Still reckon Australia is acting alone, Tony?