One of the greatest frustrations as a scientist is to see interpretations of data misrepresented by politicians. Unfortunately in Australia, much of this bluster has come from the far-right side of conservatives, part of our broad church, whose members have traditionally prided themselves on prudence and level-headedness.

I am a solar photovoltaic scientist and engineer of more than 20 years' experience and a director of Coalition for Conservation, a movement of grassroots conservative Coalition members who support greater action on climate change, and I have heard it all: from John Howard’s comments that “solar and wind can only be useful on the margins” to Tony Abbott’s description of wind turbines as “dark satanic mills".

Michael McCormack and Scott Morrison say increased climate action will lead to 'higher taxes and higher electricity prices'. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Sadly, last Friday, Scott Morrison and Michael McCormack were at it again, warning that increased climate action would lead to “higher taxes and higher electricity prices” and implying it was the desire only of “those in the inner city”.

Of course, this is nothing more than marketing fluff. You could be forgiven for thinking that they must have missed the memo on the record take-up of ultra-cheap solar and wind power, now generating nearly 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply, with more than 50 per cent renewables expected by 2030.