Minister SLAMS her Liberal MP colleague for linking bushfire smoke in Sydney to climate change

Minister SLAMS her Liberal MP colleague for linking bushfire smoke in Sydney to climate change – and asks ‘do we need to shut down everything, turn off the lights and go back to grass huts?’ in extraordinarily spray

  • Liberal MP Matt Kean linked the Sydney smoke to climate change this week
  • He was the first Coalition MP to make the connection  on a public platform
  • It resulted in a very public spat with Nationals Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie
  • McKenzie said she’s frustrated with the irrational conversation on the topic

A senior minister has reprimanded a state colleague for breaking ranks and criticising the federal government’s policy platform on climate change.

Nationals Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie today blasted the New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean for making a link between the bushfires and climate change.

The two are now involved in a very public stoush over the issue, a reflection of the growing tensions within the Coalition over environmental policy platforms.

Nationals Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie slammed NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean for his comments linking the Sydney smoke and climate change

The federal agriculture minister went on the attack – blasting the MP as ‘irrational’ after months of silence from both state and federal ministers about changes to climate policy.

Until Mr Kean’s intervention, state and federal coalition ministers spent weeks arguing there was no direct link between climate change and the bushfire crisis.

But a further retaliation by Kean that he would rather listen to climate scientists than the federal frontbencher about the effects of global warming only fanned the flames between the two.

‘I actually have a science degree – I am one of the few in parliament that does,’ Ms McKenzie said.

‘That’s what gets me a little frustrated about the irrational conversation we’re having on this topic,’ she added.

Senator McKenzie argued the federal government could take meaningful action on climate change without harming agricultural or resources industries.

‘I accept the science of climate change.

‘But do we need to shut down everything, turn off the lights and go back to grass huts? No,’ she said. 

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean is in the firing line from Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean is in the firing line from Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie

Father Rod Bower from the Gosford Anglican Church was one of the many supporters of New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean's comments about climate change and the Sydney smoke

Father Rod Bower from the Gosford Anglican Church was one of the many supporters of New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean’s comments about climate change and the Sydney smoke

But the Environment Minister’s decision to speak out has been warmly welcomed by everyday Australians and even high-profile individuals praising him for breaking ranks.

Religious figure Father Rod Bower from the Gosford Central Church even took the opportunity to show his support for the message on a sign outside the church.

It comes after 40,000 strong protest in Sydney on Wednesday where people wore face-masks and carried signs calling for urgent action on climate change, after weeks of the city being plagued with smoked from the state’s bushfires.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk