CLIMATE sceptic Christopher Monckton has been offered a prime speaking slot at the National Press Club in Canberra on July 19, despite a spate of cancelled public appearances.
Lord Monckton - who recently accused Julia Gillard's climate adviser Ross Garnaut of “fascist” views - is set to debate the Australia's Institute's executive director, economist Richard Denniss.
The Australian Online understands Lord Monckton was offered the spot in response to a request from his tour organisers.
The engagement is yet to be finalised as he has a speaking engagement in Melbourne which he is trying to shift.
It's understood the press club board approved the offer to Lord Monckton on Friday, while Dr Denniss has accepted the invitation.
National Press Club senior vice president Steve Lewis said the role of the club was to “provide a civilised forum for an important debate”.
“That's why we have extended the invitation to Lord Monckton and Dr Denniss to have this debate,” he said.
Dr Denniss has worked as a strategic adviser to Greens leader Bob Brown and worked as chief-of-staff to former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.
Lord Monckton has had speaking appearances cancelled at clubs in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth since arriving in Australia, after his comments about Professor Garnaut were revealed. Lord Monckton later said he had apologised to Professor Garnaut.
Engagements at the Brisbane Broncos Leagues Club and Port Adelaide Football Club have also been cancelled.
Lord Monckton's tour organisers have subsequently arranged for him to speak at the Bardon Conference Venue in Queensland and the South Adelaide Football Club in South Australia.
Lord Monckton has also spoken at a mining conference in Perth, and at the city's Notre Dame University, during his current visit.
But he today hit out at those responsible for cancelling his appearances, saying it was evidence the climate change movement was faltering.
“I see this simply as a mark of naked fear on the part of people who had arrogantly decided to politicise science and have now discovered that the truth is the truth, whether they like it or not,” Lord Monckton said.
“What we're seeing here is the last gasp of quite an unpleasant international political movement which had decided to try to politicise science itself and which has now failed.”
“If they were confident of their own scientific and economic position, they would not be frightened to allow the other side of the case to be heard.”
Organisers of Lord Monckton's national tour were told his booking of a Port Adelaide Footbal Club function room was “unsuitable”.
Port Adelaide's media manager Andrew Rutter said the booking was made by a staff member but cancelled after management became aware of it.
“Port Adelaide is a sporting club and that is what we are about,” Mr Rutter said.
“The club respects everyone's right to an opinion, but does not see itself or its facilities as a platform for any political viewpoint.”http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Lord Monckton said the club did not understand what freedom of speech meant.
“In Australia it always used to be that you got a fair go and clearly that is no longer the case,” he said.
“Before I came here I had a look at the international reputation of Australia and a number of the websites that monitored human rights for instance are beginning to talk of Australia as no longer a free country because access to information is so controlled.”
TheAge.com.au
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