MATT Kean’s appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as NSW’s zero emissions tzar has been described by voters as ridiculous, an abomination and political suicide.
The former prime minister was this week tasked with de-carbonising NSW after his “good friend” handed him the chairmanship of NSW’s Net Zero Emissions & Clean Economy Board.
- NSW Environment Minister employs "mate" Malcom Turnbull to de-carbonise NSW.
- He praises the former PM as "one of the outstanding thinkers in Australian public life".
- Voters call the move "ridiculous, an abomination and political suicide".
The appointment was met with disbelief by affronted voters.
“It’s the Left leading the Left,” said Australian newspaper contributor Charles.
In announcing the appointment, NSW Energy & Environment Minister Matt Kean said Mr Turnbull would bring about a “clean industrial revolution”.
Among other things, he said Mr Turnbull’s responsibility was to “create jobs of the future, to support industry to develop low emissions and to modernise industrial processes”.
“I have a great relationship with Malcolm,” Mr Kean said. “I think he’s one of the outstanding thinkers in Australian public life.”
“Malcolm’s certainly been a great friend to me.”
Mr Turnbull’s appointment has gone down like a lead balloon among federal Liberal MPs who have worn the brunt of the oft described vindictive former prime minister.
Mr Turnbull was removed from office in 2018 after spooking the Liberal Party with a Greens’ inspired NEG energy policy.
He has since spent much of his time publicly berating his former colleagues for dismissing his extreme environmentalism.
FACTIONAL
Mr Turnbull’s appointment comes just a month after Mr Kean was accused of a conflict of interest after a $300,000 government contract was allegedly awarded to a third-party associate of “moderate” factional ally Michael Photios.
According to a report in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, One Nation leader Mark Latham had moved to refer the matter to ICAC.
The conflict is alleged to be centred around pro-renewables organisation Blueprint Institute, of which Mr Photios is named as Strategic Council.
Messrs Kean and Photios have denied Mr Latham’s accusation.
Mr Kean, however, has come under intense fire from online media commenters over Mr Turnbull’s appointment.
Almost 900 comments were posted on The Australian site within hours of the announcement and close to 100 per cent were critical of Mr Kean – and Mr Turnbull.
ACTIVIST
“What’s freaking wrong with these Liberals in NSW! The last thing we want is Turnbull – repeat fools – the last thing we want is Turnbull,” R wrote.
“Surely there are enough [upset people] around to start an activist group against Turnbull, Kean and the ridiculous direction this State Liberal Government is heading,” R concluded.
Rachael wrote: “There’s no such thing as net zero emissions – ever. A chimera, a waste of time, a fantasy. Like world peace, it exists in the minds of fantasists and Malcolm Turnbull.”
Another called for Mr Turnbull and his family to immediately declare any financial interests in wind and solar.
“The NSW government needs to get rid of Kean immediately. If they don’t Berejiklian will go the same way as Turnbull,” Michael wrote.
Ian was less kind: “Extraordinary, just when you believe Matt Kean cannot get things more wrong… BAM! He manages to lower your expectations.”
“It would be an abomination to appoint the ‘ghost’ to this position but when it comes to policies of Matt Kean, nothing would surprise me,” Thomas wrote. “It’s a sad reflection of the current state of the NSW Liberal Party.”
Piers wrote: “Great way to split the Party. Political suicide.”
Meanwhile, Mr Latham said policy-making around energy in NSW was “riven with conflicts of interest and abuses of office” that requires scrutiny.PC
The photo says it all. Malcolm Turnbull having his hand up Matt Kean’s back pulling his strings.
Gladys are you really so naive?
You now have two of the biggest egos in political life, armed with the most insane, despicable green agenda, running the NSW Energy Portfolio!
Gladys, have you such a short memory that you cannot remember what happened to Bill Shorten’s totally imbecilic, Australian-economy destroying, GREEN bid for power in 2019?
Believe me, these two will DEMOLISH YOU and then destroy the NSW Liberal Party completely.
Heavens, – wouldn’t it be ’luvverly’ if Tony Abbott could make a magical re-appearance to firmly take the reins and supply the sane and strong leadership (and increased coal-fired power) that NSW desperately needs?
The appointment of Malcolm Turnbull is SO WRONG……the Liberal party is destroying itself. I won’t be voting Liberal at the next election. GET RID OF TURNBULL NOW
It’s no surprise that Matt Kean has a wonderful relationship with Malcolm Turnbull – they both belong in the Greens party. We were well rid of Malcolm and he should have been booted out of the Liberal Party long ago. Gladys will rue the day that she allowed this vindictive, backstabbing person a foot in the door of Liberal NSW!
I have almost voted LNP but with this appointment I have told my State LNP member they have lost my vote! As an observation, the office said they had a number of calls on the same matter and Wendy only got in by a few votes so I suspect she will lose, I also suspect the State LNP has a death wish. Looks like One Nation next!
‘[…] Mr Kean said. “I think [Turnbull]’s one of the outstanding thinkers in Australian public life.”’
That would be because Turnbull is twice as intelligent as Kean – he has two neurons, whereas Kean has only one.
I heard that Gladys Berejiklian is going to change her surname to “Kirkup”.
What?! This job was made for Tony Abbott. He’d do a much better job than Turnbull.