Former Greens staffer Ben Oquist, one of those who brought the two men together, said the move was a step forward
The Australia Institute has defended its role in negotiating the Clive Palmer-Al Gore climate announcement because the concessions made by the Palmer United party had avoided a big step backwards and reset the climate debate in Australia.
In an email to supporters, the thinktanks strategic director and former Greens staffer, Ben Oquist, one of a number of people involved in bringing Gore and Palmer together, defended the move as a step forward, despite PUPs unchanged resolve to repeal Australias carbon pricing scheme after the Senate resumes next week.