What makes Chris Uhlmann tick (and drives him ‘insane’ about modern politics)

Chris Uhlmann admits the complete and utter despair many Australians feel about climate change drives him insane.

He says it’s got all the hallmarks of a religious cult.

And he’s well-positioned to judge.

Uhlmann joined a seminary in 1979, fresh out of high school, where he trained as a priest.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he told Neil Mitchell on Tuesday, as part of the What Makes You Tick series.

Uhlmann said while there was undoubtedly need for action and adaptation, the toxicity of the climate change debate as a political issue was difficult to comprehend.

“The world isn’t about to end, there is reason for optimism and one of the things humans are great at is adaption,” he said.

“It has all the aspects of a religious faith in that the ‘world is about to end because we have sinned against the environment and we must now do penance and pay for our sins’ – that is entirely the way you construct a religion.

“I would counsel people that things are possibly not as bad as some would make out.”

Uhlmann also opened up about his upbringing, as well as his work a security guard before entering journalism at the age of 29.

While his job now requires him to hold Australia’s politicians to account, Uhlmann admits the pressures placed on a modern politician were far from enviable.

“The old thing is that you ‘can’t please all people, all the time’ but you can’t seem to please anybody, anymore,” he said.

“The expectations of government now are immense.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview