Solar Flares, Senator Fielding and Uni Melbourne Ideas

I was somewhat surprised to hear of Senator Fielding's ideas regarding the solar flare theory of Global Warming. Sometime ago I came across a book with these ideas and bought it for my library. I also tried reading it!!
I find after reading a number of books, articles and websites on Global Warming that many of the ideas are supported or confounded by educated people with an understanding of the detail of the arguments. Listening to Professor David Karoly, University of Melbourne, with rebuttal on the Climate Change Skeptic TV program last year and also the Radio National Science Show yesterday showed how someone who knows his subject can easily rebut ideas which a more general reading and limited understanding of the popular media may seem reasonable. Having a scientist or 2 in the family has also generated much debate on the subject ( not always completely educated either).
So although we are not all scientists or blessed with an encyclopedic knowledge of the arguments, I think it behoves Senator Fielding to ask more questions, get more knowledge and generally think about the arguments before such comments as recently reported. I have known about the ideas and debates for years, and I'm just a "normal" person. It really just shows how he hasn't done his homework.
I was hoping to go to the University of Melbourne Ideas Festival later in June but alas all the sessions I could fit around my work schedule are booked out. As someone in the subutbs it is hard to get into central Melbourne to attend these events and I would love to hear Professor Garnaut, David Karoly and Peter Doherty in the flesh.