PM Howard Admits Australia's Drought Worst In 100 Years - IHT

[hatrack]

SYDNEY, Australia Australia is in the grip of its worst drought in 100 years, Prime Minister John Howard said Friday, prompting concerns of a recession and possible irreversible climate change.

Australia, already one of the world's driest continents, has been suffering from below-average rainfall for the past several years. Unseasonably hot, dry winds and early wildfires swept across four southern and eastern states this week, evaporating any hopes that a late spring rainfall might salvage Australia's failing crops. "It's the worst in a century," Howard told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Friday. "I would expect this drought to leave a very big impression on the Australian psyche."

Scientists from the Bureau of Meteorology warned lawmakers in Canberra this week that an El Nino weather pattern could bring even less rain this year, with devastating consequences for Australian farmers. Treasurer Peter Costello warned Thursday that Australia's farm sector could be slipping into recession. Howard dismissed that claim on Friday, but said the drought would almost certainly affect Australia's gross domestic product, which has experienced unprecedented growth over the past 14 years.

"It will affect GDP growth. Just how much remains to be seen because it depends on the extent to which our booming economy in other areas can offset it," he told Melbourne's 3AW radio station. "We've got to try and keep a sense of perspective. The country overall is still doing very well," he said

EDIT

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/13/asia/AS_GEN_Australia_Record_Drought.php

Let's see . . . irreversible climate change, 100s of huge brushfires, a collapsing agriculture sector and potential recession . . . but the country overall is still doing very well.

Well, that's reassuring, don't you think?