Hidden among the reaction to the first Australian Government Direct Action emissions abatement auctions is an interesting and revealing response from the relevant minister Greg Hunt.

To recap, the Direct Action scheme has spent 25% of the funds allocated to abate carbon. For that spend, it will  theoretically abate 15% of the required 5% emissions reduction. Both figures are far too low by world standards.

Hunt believes that the full target can be achieved in the timeframe. No-one else does.

Hunt has derided his critics as ALP stooges and exaggerated the price of carbon under the ALP government ($1300) without an accompanying explanation.

Typically, it seems, much like his colleagues he’s afraid of criticism and prepared to exaggerate. So there’s nothing to see here, just move along.

But it was Hunt’s recollection of his conversation with  John Connor of the Climate Institute  that was for me most revealing.

Hunt claimed they gave him  full approval. The Climate Institute clarified the conversation just stating they saw the process as transparent and the projects had potential

I wondered, “Why would Hunt do that?”

My surmise is that those are the words of a man driven by self-doubt.

His course should now be clear. Hunt should admit he needs a better plan. A real ETS. It would cure his self-doubt too.