Tony Abbott's fight against solar and wind power in Australia

Recent verbal and policy assaults on wind energy by the Australian prime minister undermine the potential of the country's renewable energy industry, reports The Age

In the not too distant past Tony Abbott hopped on his bike and set off for a ride around Rottnest Island. His path took him right under the West Australian island's sole wind turbine, and according to the prime minister this helped him form the view that windfarms were visually awful, noisy and potentially a health risk.

It must have been a particularly offensive turbine. Because in recent times Abbott has launched a number of verbal and policy assaults on wind energy.