By Situation Theatre 15/12/2015
While it has been suspected for some time, the Environment Minister’s odd comments about climate change in recent weeks have raised alarm bells for a psychosis diagnosis to a deafening volume.
Dr Spivey, the fictional character from Ken Kesey's 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, said “Psychosis is defined by a distorted or nonexistent sense of objective reality. Common symptoms include confused thinking and delusions. Greg Hunt is showing all the hallmarks of psychosis in many of his recent comments about climate change”.
Family and friends have become increasingly disturbed by his bizarre comments about climate policy which clearly have no relation to reality. These include that selling India Australian coal would cut global carbon emissions, that climate change action was a “deeply personal goal” for him, and that Malcom Turnbull has added “very significantly” to the climate policy of Tony Abbott. They also include his statement that the government approved Adani’s $16bn Carmichael coal mine in Queensland “because it was not a neo-colonialist power that tried to tell poor countries what to do”. The “bullshit” coughs from Papua New Guinea and Nauru were heard on the other side of the Pacific.
The final trigger for Hunt family members to seek professional medical help was his claim that the government prohibition on wind farm investment never existed. Apparently Mr Hunt has so seriously lost touch with reality that the existence of newspapers and the Internet, whereby events are recorded, are lost on him.
There is some speculation about the causes of Mr Hunt’s psychosis.
Dr Spivey said “Psychosis is not well understood and there are often many genetic and environmental factors at play. In Greg’s case though it’s simple. His delusions come directly from his conservative ideology. Overcome this, and his connection with reality will return.”