The 'right' link is often the wrong link.

Well, Australian politics has possibly had it's most embarrassing day - a right wing, climate sceptic, fundamentalist Christian has just been voted in as leader of the opposition Liberal party. Tony Abbott, an openly fundamentalist Christian was voted in by his party after a leadership spill this morning. Whilst this is probably a good thing for the Labor party (because no one in their right mind would vote Liberal whilst he is leader), it is an horrendous thing for the environment and also a very embarrassing development for Australia.

In a recent poll by The Age newspaper in Melbourne, readers were asked about Genesis. "Do you have a literal belief in the bible's account of creation?" Incredibly, there were still 14% of Australians who said yes. I'd like to believe that Abbott is NOT one of those Australian but looking at his position on many points throughout the decade I wouldn't be suprised if he was. Said to be a devout Catholic, he wanted to join the Catholic priesthood, and entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly. It was this time in the seminary that earned Abbott the nickname "The Mad Monk". He subsequently decided to leave the seminary and choose another career path.

I guess we can't be too worried though when a similar Genesis poll was asked of the public in the USA. In that country over 50% of respondents said that they take the literal reading of Genesis to be correct. 

Thank goodness Abbott is in the minority however it is still cause for concern when a majority of his party have voted him in to a substantial position of power.