Climate change author thanks Tony Abbott

Journalist and climate change activist Naomi Klein has thanked Prime Minister Tony Abbott for inadvertently boosting her book sales in Australia.

"In many ways I owe Tony Abbott a debt of thanks because he is this book's best marketer in Australia," she said.

"He's proving the book's thesis every time he tells Australians that they need to choose between the economy and climate action. That is a lie."

Her latest book This Changes Everything, contrasting economic need with environmental need, argues for an economy built away from carbon.

The author of anti-globalisation classic No Logo made her first trip back to Australia in 14 years to speak at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas.

Ms Klein had been avoiding long-haul flights but she said the Abbott government's policies warranted extending her carbon footprint.

"What we need to do is tax those with the most in order to pay for this transition [from fossil fuel to sustainable energy industries] and in Australia, we're seeing the exact opposite with carbon and mining taxes being repealed," she told audiences at a preview of her talk.