Treasurer Matt Kean spotted with climate activists before Parliament

Treasurer Matt Kean was spotted doing a Covid-safe “elbow bump” with global climate activists outside NSW Parliament House.

Treasurer Matt Kean has been spotted fraternising with members of global climate activists Extinction Rebellion on his way into parliament.

The Environment Minister stopped and elbow-bumped protesters on Macquarie Street on Tuesday and chatted to them.

Treasurer Matt Kean chats to protesters outside NSW Parliament. Picture: Gaye Gerard

One protester donned a hat which read “climate emergency” and a wearable poster which said: “Shame on you if you don’t acknowledge your duty of care.”

A second protester held a placard with the words “Bla Bla Bla … Act Now!” on them.

The group — which is known for its illegal climate protests costing members police arrests — has previously held protests in Sydney featuring people dressed as bees or burying their heads in the sand.

Mr Kean said peaceful protests are a key part of the democracy. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Kean defended his impromptu meeting with the activists.

“I don’t generally agree with the extinction rebellion’s views but I think peaceful protest is an important part of our democracy,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“I think it’s important for politicians to hear all perspectives and I often speak to people who are expressing their views outside the parliament as I enter the building.”

Last year Matt Kean posed with school strike climate students in his NSW Parliament office. Picture: Supplied

It came just days after he urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to set more ambitious climate change targets and go to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow next month.

It’s not the first time the Hornsby MP has been pictured alongside climate activists — having last year copped criticism from farmers for posing with students holding “Fund our future not gas” signs in his office