What really is the focus here, the best outcome for voters or blind political ambition? And on the subject of council elections, how is it that someone with such obvious connections to the Nationals never stated it on her nomination for the upcoming council elections. Or is that a bit inconvenient, to actually tell the voters the full story?

When Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1896 first warned the world that burning fossil fuels would increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and heat  the planet, he was disbelieved by other scientists and mocked by the public.

So recent comments by former prime ministers John Howard  (“I have become increasingly more of a sceptic on climate change”) and Tony Abbott  ("the Green left’s theology of climate change") would not have been out of place then – in 1896.

But now it is 2017 and very different. Our own Australian Academy of Science (like every other similar institution in the world and 97 per cent of climate scientists) states:

“Today, human activities are directly increasing atmospheric concentrations of … greenhouse gases… These human generated gases enhance the natural greenhouse effect and further warm the surface."

So on what are our former prime ministers relying with these views? Certainly not the teaching of the churches.

In 2014 the Anglican Church’s general synod called on the government "to respect and act upon relevant independent evidence-based scientific advice’’ on climate change. And in 2015 the Pope in his encyclical on the environment - Laudato Si’ - said “a number of scientific studies indicate that most global warming in recent decades is due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases …released mainly as a result of human activity”.

So, if not science and if not religion then what? Intuition? Radio commentators? The tiny minority of dissenting scientists?

Mr Howard and Mr Abbott are highly respected by their conservative followers, many of whom no doubt follow their lead on issues such as climate change.  Surely it's not too much to ask, for the sake of our (and their) children and grandchildren, that they follow the pleading of their religious leaders and actually read what the scientists say?

Share the Dignity’s second sanitary drive for 2017 kicked off on August 1 and runs until August 31. 

We are incredibly grateful to the collection points and all the people who generously donate pads and tampons. It is easy to help us help women in need this August. Just head to the website and find your local collection points and donate a packet of pads or tampons this August.

Can you imagine having your period and not being able to afford tampons or pads? 

Every item collected is registered, sorted and sent to services that directly support women and girls in need. 

At the beginning of 2017, Share the Dignity started its national roll out of our #Pinkbox Dignity Vending Machines, which holds 60 ‘Period Packs’ each containing two pads and six tampons. Each vending machine costs $9000 to manufacture, deliver, install and stock with 1000 Period Packs. The charity is aiming to raise enough funds to install a further 30 vending machines nationwide by the end of the year. Organisations or individuals interested in helping are encouraged to contact Share the Dignity (dvm@sharethedignity.com.au).