‘Treacherous’: Barnaby Joyce unloads on new climate tsar Matt Kean

Anthony Albanese’s new climate tsar, former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, has been branded a “Turnbull 2.0” with both state and federal Coalition sources blasting the appointment.

• Coalition cagey on cost of nuclear

Anthony Albanese’s new climate tsar, former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, has been branded a “Turnbull 2.0” with both state and federal Coalition sources blasting the appointment that comes on the heels of his shock departure from Macquarie Street.

Liberal sources told The Daily Telegraph they had expected Mr Kean’s departure from NSW parliament would see him head into the clean energy space, but it was “unseemly” of him to take on a role from the Labor federal government days after claiming he was quitting politics to pursue a private sector career.

His new role as chairman of the federal Climate Change Authority comes before Mr Kean has formally tendered his resignation to NSW speaker Greg Piper.

His appointment was a captain’s pick from Energy Minister Chris Bowen who said he was the best man for the job.

Flanked by Mr Bowen and Mr Albanese on Monday, Mr Kean was quick to water down nuclear energy’s role in Australia’s future, a strategy being pursued by the federal Liberal Party, by saying he had received advice in 2019 that it was “too expensive” and slow.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced former Liberal Treasurer and Energy Minister of NSW Matt Kean as chair of the Climate Change Authority. Picture: Martin Ollman

“We have an opportunity to deliver families the cheapest energy bills anywhere in the world,” he said.

“The climate change authority has an important role in providing independent advice to the government of the day, based on facts, science, evidence, engineering and economics.”

But his comments contradict statements he made to Sky News in 2021 where the then Energy Minister and Treasurer said there were “exciting things” happening in the nuclear energy industry and he hoped it would have a role to play in the nation’s future.

“Into the future will nuclear have a role to play? I think so and I hope so. But right now I can’t bet on technology that isn’t readily available.”

Liberals have accused Mr Kean of being a “Turnbull 2.0”, referring to fellow climate advocate and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who built a reputation of criticising his own party since leaving office.

“I thought he’d go work for a clean energy outfit but not a government role. It’s a bit unseemly with the haste with which it’s done,” one Liberal said.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull infamously built a reputation of criticising his former colleagues. Picture: Stefan Postles/Getty Images

“It’s obviously why he’s resigned. The optics of him standing alongside Chris Bowen are going to stick in the throats of a lot of Liberals.

“It’s Turnbull 2.0.”

Mr Kean said he was leaving to pursue a private sector career, but the climate change authority chair position was too good to turn down. Senior Liberals accused Mr Kean of knowing about the opportunity before he left.

Barnaby Joyce labelled Matt Kean as someone who is “consistently treacherous.” Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The senior source said many members in the Liberal Party were already discussing if he should be removed as a member.

“There’s a concern that he has been so anti nuclear lately that he’s going to be weaponised against the federal Liberal Party,” they said.

“With this he’s proved he doesn’t belong in the Liberal Party, he belongs with the Greens.”

The source accused Mr Kean of lying when he said he did not have a job to go to yet.

“If it went to the cabinet today then a cabinet paper would have been prepared a day or weeks ago. They would have been vetting him.”

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese described Mr Kean as a key player in climate advocacy. Picture: Martin Ollman

Another senior NSW Liberal said Mr Kean should have waited until August to announce the role when he leaves NSW parliament.

“It was so imprudent as he is still a state MP,” the source said.

“People in the party are very dismayed (because) he stood up last week and said he didn’t have a job organised but they didn’t just offer him a job over the weekend.”

It is understood Mr Kean was required to seek advice from the NSW parliamentary ethics committee before accepting the job to avoid breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct. It is not known whether he did so.

Criticism from the federal Nationals party also came in swiftly, with Senator Matt Canavan saying Mr Kean should not be trusted with advice on energy policy.

“I’m not shocked. Matt’s worn his heart on his sleeve for years. I just didn’t realise he carried a card for Labor,” Mr Canavan said.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen hand-picked the appointment. Picture: Martin Ollman

“We shouldn’t be going to Matt Kean to ask him how to create a reliable energy grid, Matt’s record speaks for itself.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also took aim at the newly appointed chair, labelling Mr Kean as being “consistently treacherous.”

Mr Joyce mocked the decision during an interview on Sky News and said Mr Kean will only further cripple manufacturing across the nation.

“He’s found his authentic home hasn’t he, the current intermittent power lobby cripple has now got a great advocate, and no doubt he’ll go out there to further cripple manufacturing in Australia and cripple power prices for pensioners that can’t afford it and cripple the countryside,” he said.