Last Update: Saturday, June 2, 2007. 1:15pm (AEST)

Climate criticism: Mr Rudd says the Government has had 11 years to set an emissions target. [File photo] (Getty Images)

Govt failing on climate change: Rudd

Labor leader Kevin Rudd has attacked the Federal Government's 11-year record on climate change in his speech to the Western Australian Labor Party's state conference in Perth.

Mr Rudd has accused Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello of a complete lack of leadership on the issue.

He has used much of his speech to attack Mr Howard for failing to commit to a long-term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Mr Howard doesn't recognise the urgency of climate change," he said.

Labor has committed to a carbon reduction target of 60 per cent by 2050.

Mr Rudd has also described the Government's climate change report, released yesterday, as flawed because it fails to set a long-term target for cutting emissions.

He says only he can be trusted to deliver.

"Mr Howard has had 11 years to set an emissions target but he's failed to do so," he said.

"Mr Howard has had 11 years to establish an emissions trading scheme and he's failed to do so.

"Delegates, this is clearly now beyond dispute. The only way to bring about change on climate change is to change the Government itself."

Construction watchdog

Earlier this week, Mr Rudd was criticised by the powerful WA secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Kevin Reynolds, for failing to understand unions and for backtracking on industrial relations.

Today, the Labor leader reaffirmed his commitment to keep the Australian Building and Construction Commission until January 2010.

"Certainty, it's critical for the future of the construction industry and we will not tolerate the return of any unlawful practices," he said.

He says it is clear the construction industry needs a strong cop on the beat.

Mr Rudd says as for WorkChoices, he will get rid of the laws "lock, stock and barrel".

Howard's warning

Prime Minister John Howard earlier used an address to the Liberal Party's Federal Council in Sydney to warn against a change of government for the sake of change.

"It is never time for a change unless the change is for the better," he said.

Mr Howard said decisions on climate change were a profoundly economic matter.

"If we get the targets wrong, if we get the pace of change wrong, if we get these decisions wrong and we burden the Australian community with higher electricity prices than ought otherwise be the case, we will inflict enormous damage to Australian industry and inflict great pain on Australian households," he said.

State environment ministers are expected to discuss recommendations to the Federal Government on a carbon trading scheme at a meeting in Cairns today.

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