Beazley Govt Would Sign Kyoto To Tackle Drought

Labor would tackle climate change as a long-term solution to Australia's water shortages if it wins Government, Opposition leader Kim Beazley says.

Mr Beazley said the water problems of regional Australia could not be solved without a strategy to deal with global warming.

"You can talk about all the dams if you like, you can talk about getting a better flow down the Murray - you can talk about all those sorts of things," Mr Beazley told Network Ten.

"But if you do not have a strategy to deal with global warming, you have no strategy to deal with water, for Australia generally and for regional Australia in particular."

Treasurer Peter Costello has warned Australia is facing its worst drought ever, plunging rural Australians into recession.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday flagged plans to boost help to the bush, indicating the Government would next week consider changes to the exceptional circumstances drought assistance package.

As Australian temperatures rise year after year and rain becomes more scarce, climate change, caused by global warming, was a serious problem, Mr Howard acknowledged.

The Government has been widely criticised for not signing the Kyoto protocol on climate change but Mr Howard says the drought will not change his mind.

"I don't think it alters my outlook on Kyoto, but it certainly emphasises that the world does have a problem with climate change," he said.

Mr Beazley today said only the Labor party would take global warming seriously by signing Kyoto.

"We will put in place the long-term water solutions and not the short-term political fixes that John Howard's been about," he said.

"So, if you want to be able to sustain rural and regional life into the long-term, if you want to maintain the value of your property, you've simply got to elect a Labor Government, because only we will make that stand."