Watch: Matt Kean criticises Tony Abbott at COP28 Dubai Climate Conference

Liberal MP Matt Kean has criticised former prime minister Tony Abbott at an international climate change conference. Watch the video here.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has given Conservatives “a bad name” on tackling climate change, former NSW Energy and Environment Minister MP Matt Kean says. 

Mr Kean has told a global climate conference in Dubai that the history of conservative governments “standing up for the environment” has been “lost in Australian politics”.

Liberal Leader Mark Speakman refused to stand by the comments on Monday, when asked about the remaks of his Health spokesman.

“I’m not going comment on other people, we have a strong and proud environmental energy record here in NSW,” he said.

That came after Mr Kean described Mr Abbott, and former US President Donald Trump, are “outliers” among centre-right governments on responses to “one of the greatest challenges of our time”. 

“I think that Donald Trump and Tony Abbott give conservatives a bad name when it comes to tackling climate change,” he said. 

Mr Kean said centre-right governments like in the UK and Germany have been “leading the way when it comes to tackling climate”.

Former NSW Energy and Environment Minister MP Matt Kean spoke in a panel discussion at the climate change conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Kean said former prime minister Tony Abbott had given conservatives “a bad name” on climate change. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“Look at the Boris Johnson / Theresa May governments look at the Merkel government in Germany, look at Emmanuel Macron.

“Again, centrist and centre right governments are leading the way when it comes to tackling climate change.”

He made the comments during a panel discussion moderated by Environmental Leadership Australia CEO Anna Rose.

Matt Kean (far right) spoke during a panel discussion at the Dubai climate change conference. Picture: Environmental leadership Australia, Linked In

The group – which has paid for Mr Kean’s trip to Dubai – works to support leadership on climate change among conservative political leaders.

Mr Kean said that the problem of climate change “will be solved through the channelling of private capital, through free markets.”

“Conservatives have long history, particularly in Australia, of standing up for the environment,” Mr Kean said.

“That seems to have been lost in Australian politics, but I think we can reclaim it in line with our values.”

Mr Kean is attending COP28 as a guest of Environmental Leadership Australia Picture: AFP

He pointed to private investment in hydrogen and solar panels as an example of the market moving towards renewable power generation.

While in Dubai, Mr Kean declined to back a push from federal Coalition Energy spokesman Ted O’Brien to embrace nuclear power to achieve “net zero”.

Federal Coalition Energy spokesman Ted O’Brien wants Australia to embrace nuclear power to reach net zero. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Kean said it would not be possible to deliver nuclear power in Australia in time to replace ageing coal fired power plants by the time they shut down, Nine newspapers reported last week.

Mr Kean is one of a number of Liberal MPs attending the COP28 Conference in Dubai. He told Sky News last week that his travel is being paid for by the non-profit organisation Environmental Leadership Australia.

Mr Kean was joined on the panel by federal Coalition MP Paul Fletcher, NSW Opposition environment spokeswoman Kellie Sloane, and Queensland’s Opposition environment spokesman Sam O’Connor.

Mr Speakman said Mr Kean was attending the event as a “private citizen”.

On Sunday, Mr Kean criticised Health Minister Ryan Park for planning to take leave over Christmas despite a dispute with Health Services Union Paramedics threatening to cripple the Triple-Zero emergency call service on New Year’s Day.