Guest essay by Eric Worrall
h/t JoNova; Climate overboard? Panicking NSW Conservatives appear to have abruptly placed political survival ahead of climate appeasement, in the face of a sudden unexpected by-election in a coal jobs district.
Malcolm Turnbull dumped from role on NSW government clean energy board after ‘media backlash’
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says the NSW government has capitulated to a “ferocious campaign” from the media after his appointment to a clean energy board was overturned.
Last week, NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean had backed Mr Turnbull to lead the Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy board, adding he was a great friend.
This morning, however, Mr Kean released a statement saying Mr Turnbull could “distract” from the board’s goal of creating jobs in low carbon industries and reducing state emissions while growing the economy.
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Before his appointment, Mr Turnbull had written a letter objecting to the expansion of a coal mine in the Mount Pleasant area, in the Hunter Valley, citing concerns for his nearby grazing property.
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NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said on Nine Radio this morning that he was embarrassed he had agreed to Mr Turnbull’s appointment.
“I gave the benefit of the doubt to the Liberals and the benefit of the doubt to Malcolm Turnbull and he pulled my pants down within 48 hours,” Mr Barilaro said.
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The state seat of Upper Hunter is facing a by-election next month, after the resignation of disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen.
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The purpose of the board was to drive innovative technology and sustainable practices to reduce the state’s emissions by 35 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/malcolm-turnbull-dumped-from-role-on-nsw-government-clean-energy-board-after-media-backlash/ar-BB1fkIUr
Malcolm Turnbull deposed famously climate skeptic Aussie PM Tony Abbott in a party room Putsch in 2013, but was in turn dumped by his party in 2018, after his party became concerned at his poor polling amongst core supporters.
Could the NSW Conservatives possibly be more transparent?
I hope Upper Hunter district voters give the finger to both major parties. Labor has maintained a hardline climate platform for years, so they do not deserve the support of coal workers. The NSW Conservatives say they care, but they appoint climate radicals like Turnbull when it suits them, then about face and claim it was all a big mistake, when circumstances change and they need a few coal votes to keep their razor thin parliamentary majority.
Neither major party deserves the votes of coal miners, nor the votes of communities which depend on income from coal.
Update (EW): The clown dance continues – NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has spoken of her “everlasting respect” for Malcolm Turnbull, whom her government dumped hours before she made her everlasting respect speech.
via Watts Up With That?
April 6, 2021 at 08:58PM
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