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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

Scott Morrison softened his defiant language on climate change action amid UK trade deal

Boris Johnson (right) and Scott Morrison ahead of a meeting to formally announce a trade deal with the UK.
Boris Johnson (right) and Scott Morrison ahead of a meeting to formally announce a trade deal with the UK. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Scott Morrison softened his defiant language on climate action in a foreign policy speech in June 2021, shortly after officials appeared to have finalised the environment-related parts of the Australia-UK free trade agreement, documents obtained under freedom of information laws reveal.

The timing is outlined in government documents obtained by Guardian Australia, alongside draft talking points denying climate policy was causing any delays to the trade negotiations.

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