As G-20 host, Australia wants to stick to economy agenda, keep climate change to sidelines

BRISBANE, Australia – G-20 host Australia says climate change and Ebola will be discussed by leaders of the 20 largest economies at a weekend summit here, but those issues will not be allowed to distract the main agenda of promoting economic growth.

Australia is chairing the G-20 summit in Brisbane and has resisted pressure from some countries to include climate change on the economic forum's agenda.

Australia has been widely criticized for repealing a carbon tax which had been paid by 350 of Australia's worst greenhouse gas polluters.

Treasurer and G-20 host Joe Hockey said on Thursday that Australia welcomed the deal on greenhouse gas emissions announced in Beijing by the American and Chinese presidents.

He says climate change and Ebola "are part of the agenda; they are not the whole agenda."