Going Green: An alternative view

Below: Futurist Marcus Barber asks Mr Oxley a question at the South East Business Networks Annual Dinner

By Shaun Inguanzo
LEADING economist and climate change sceptic Alan Oxley has warned Greater Dandenong businesses not to go green too soon.
Mr Oxley didn’t write off climate change, but argued it was happening at a slower rate than the environmental movement would have big business think.
He was speaking at the South East Business Networks (SEBN) Annual Dinner at Sandown Racecourse on Tuesday night in one of the final events of the month-long business expo, Greater Dandenong On Show.
Mr Oxley said developing countries like China and India had made no agreements to combat carbon emissions and Australia, which outputs just 1.5 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide, would be imposing a disadvantage on its businesses if the Federal Government implemented an Emissions Trading Scheme.
Western Port Greenhouse Alliance member Greg Hunt challenged Mr Oxley’s alternative view on climate change, and asked why businesses shouldn’t do something immediately.
Mr Oxley responded by saying he didn’t believe in becoming impoverished in order to meet global obligations.
Meanwhile, a packed Committee Room at the Sandown Racecourse enjoyed a networking night of ‘musical chairs’ – each person moving to three different tables throughout the night to prevent their social experience from stagnating.