On Tuesday Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced he wouldn’t be joining 125 other world leaders at a United Nations climate change summit.

Mr Abbott will instead be in Australia, later travelling to participate in UN talks on terrorism.

It sends a clear message as to where Mr Abbott’s priorities sit in regard to policy on climate change.

It seems his attitude permeates through many levels of government ranks.

His Treasurer, Joe Hockey, reiterated his comments from earlier this year regarding wind farms, which he described as “utterly offensive” and a “blight on the landscape”.

Mr Hockey attempted to save some semblance of debate equity, adding yesterday: “For all the greenies in the audience, if they built a huge coal-fired power station there, I’d be equally appalled.”

There are many pressing issues on the government’s agenda. 

Not least our nation’s involvement in the Middle East conflicts and the continuing standoff, closer to home, regarding the passage of the government’s budget measures through the parliament.

The government has already managed to gain support for the elimination of the carbon and mining taxes, promised in the lead-up to last year’s elections. 

It leaves little room for a debate regarding the longer term outlook for Australia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and supporting renewable energies.

We get the sense that that suits the government just fine. It is symbolic of the government Australians elected at last year’s federal poll. 

The government is clearly driven in some policy areas by ideology, with climate being just one.  There should be no surprise to Australians that Mr Abbott’s approach to climate policy is one that is measured in comparison to previous governments, which clearly had policy that was also compromised.

While the conflict continues, we expect and support Mr Abbott’s focus on ensuring our involvement is appropriate and successful. 

The problems of the world can’t be remedied by a quick-fix solution.