Federal MP Craig Kelly apologises after clash with Laura Tobin
Federal ministers have slammed controversial federal MP Craig Kelly as he referred to a qualified meteorologist as an “ignorant pommy weather girl” after a heated climate change debate on British morning television. Mr Kelly has since apologised.
St George Shire Standard
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Controversial federal MP Craig Kelly has apologised after he referred to a qualified meteorologist as an “ignorant pommy weather girl” after a heated debate about climate change on British morning television.
The federal Liberal MP for Hughes was roundly criticised on Good Morning Britain by hosts Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid and meteorologist Laura Tobin in his efforts to defend Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s response to the Australian bushfire disaster.
During the car crash interview Ms Tobin told Mr Kelly, who challenges the existence of climate change, “you are burying your head in the sand” and “you’re not a climate sceptic, you’re a climate denier”.
The backbench Sydney MP struck back on his Facebook page, referring to Ms Tobin as an “ignorant pommy weather girl”.
Mr Kelly told the St George Shire Standard he has since deleted the post, which attracted several abusive comments from his followers towards Ms Tobin.
“I apologise to Ms Tobin to referring to her as the weather girl, as I understood that this was her position on the TV show,” Mr Kelly stated.
“However I now understand that she is a meteorologist who reads the weather for that station.”
Federal emergency management minister David Littleproud slammed Mr Kelly during a press conference on Tuesday.
“Oh, look, that is just a sideshow,” Mr Littleproud said.
“He doesn’t represent the views of the government in what he’s saying there and quite frankly I’ve got better things to do than worry about what a backbencher goes and says on international TV – I couldn’t give a rats what he said.”
Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg then doubled down on the government’s stance on climate change, which Mr Kelly had contradicted during the disastrous television appearance.
“It’s very clear, the evidence is clear, the science is clear, climate change is real, man is contributing to climate change, emissions are contributing to climate change, we are seeing hotter, drier summers in Australia,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“There is no doubt that there is a hotter, drier climate and climate change is occurring and we are part of an international solution to deal with an international problem.”
Mr Kelly insisted he was open to debate with Ms Tobin but criticised her for speaking over him and “making statements contrary to peer-reviewed published science”.
“She then proceeded to use the offensive slur calling me a ‘denier’ without allowing me the proper opportunity to respond,” Mr Kelly said.
Mr Kelly said he would continue to encourage debate despite the offensive commentary from his followers on his since-deleted post.
“Immediately I was aware that some comments were over the top, I deleted them and also the entire post so no further offensive comments could be made,” Mr Kelly said.
“Unfortunately on social media, on all sides of debates tend to post comments that are inappropriate – I encourage open debate provided it is respectful and on topic.”