Elaine: It is 6am in Brisbane, Australia and although the weather breau is suggesting a maximum of 30 Degrees Celcius ( 86 Degrees Fahrenheit) for Brisbane today, at 6am it is already 30 Degrees Celcius and very humid. I have never known such incredibly hot and humid weather. While in the article below they state the average yearly temperature was 22.89 Degrees Celcius (approx. 73.4 Degrees Fahrenheit), what is not mentioned in this article is that South Australia, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory had temperatures between 45 Degrees Celcius (113 Degrees Fahrenheit) up to 55 Degrees Celcius (131 Degrees Fahrenheit).

Last Update: Wednesday, January 4, 2006. 11:14am (AEDT)2005 hottest year on recordhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1541414.htm

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell says new data showing 2005 was Australia's hottest year on record is further evidence of climate change.

The Bureau of Meteorology is releasing figures today showing the average temperature last year was 22.89 degrees.

It is the highest average temperature in Australia since comprehensive record keeping began in 1910.Senator Campbell says it is extra proof that the earth is warming up and a global response is required."

It is a huge and serious challenge, these figures add to the weight of evidence that climate change is real and that it's a problem that the world needs to work together to seek to solve," he said.

Senator Campbell says new technology will be crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"If we don't bring forward the technologies, then we won't solve the problem," he said.

The Federal Opposition is warning temperatures will continue to climb.

Labor's environment spokesman Anthony Albanese says the size of the increase is worrying.

"The importance isn't just that it's getting hotter, it's the extent," he said.

"With a more than one-degree increase in temperatures, that shows that climate change is not only here but its impact will be extreme over coming years."Mr Albanese says it is time for concrete initiatives."It's certainly time for a little less conversation and a lot more action," he said.

Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Irwin Jackson says the Government has to act.

"By 2020, our emissions are expected to be 20 per cent above what they were in 1990 and this is at a time when the world's scientists are saying we need to be reducing our emissions by 15 to 30 per cent," he said."So the Government's really failing to take the climate change issue seriously on the scale that's required."
Greens Senator Christine Milne is dismissive of the upcoming Sydney conference with five other Asia Pacific nations on trying to develop new forms of clean energy production.

"This is a sideshow to global action and the Australian Government needs to immediately ratify Kyoto," she said.Weather in General
http://www.abc.com.au/news/australia/weather/