Dumped Malcolm Turnbull proved ‘divisive’: Kean

The eight-day reign of Malcolm Turnbull as NSW net-zero emissions tsar has ended in recriminations all round.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull will now not take up the role as chair of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board.

The eight-day reign of Malcolm Turnbull as NSW net-zero emissions tsar has ended in recriminations all round: Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the former prime minister “owns this shitshow”; Mr Turnbull said it was caused by media “thug­gery”; and NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean blames himself.

Mr Turnbull was removed as inaugural chairman of the state’s Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board on Tuesday after days of internal acrimony within the Coalition and following comments from the former prime minister suggesting coalmining should end.

Although no one in cabinet objected to Mr Turnbull’s appointment late last month — NSW Police Minister David Elliott raised concerns about a conflict of interest with his role as the chairman of Andrew Forrest’s green investment fund and Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts suggested Mr Kean appoint a woman — the looming Upper Hunter by-election brought his comments into sharp relief.

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Upper Hunter, at the heart of the state’s coalmining industry, will go to the polls next month after the resignation of former Nationals MP Michael Johnsen following weeks of scandal.

Mr Barilaro told The Australian he had not previously criticised the appointment but it was his “gut feeling that this was ­always going to fall over”.

“I had made comments to Nationals colleagues that ‘just hold on to your popcorn and watch this shitshow’,” he said.

“But Malcolm owns that shitshow because he shot his mouth off within 48 hours. I didn’t think he’d chew his mouth off for maybe months. So in one way, he brought this upon himself.”

Mr Turnbull and Mr Barilaro have previously clashed, most notably when the Deputy Premier said the then prime minister should give “Australians a Christmas gift” and quit.

Mr Turnbull, for his part, blames his departure on a “concerted and ferocious campaign” run by the “right-wing media” holding the Coalition “hostage”.

The Daily Telegraph — owned by News Corp Australia, the publisher of The Australian — had reported cabinet concerns about Mr Turnbull’s appointment and that he had written to oppose a mine expansion near his country home.

Mr Kean said it was untrue to suggest the government had been forced to abandon Mr Turnbull and told The Kenny Report on Sky News Australia he did not “want to alienate parts of our base”.

Separately, Mr Kean told The Australian: “This is on me. This isn’t on anyone else.”

“One of the reasons I’ve been successful in breaking through the climate impasse is because I’ve brought people that you wouldn’t expect along the journey … and this decision was alienating those people I need if we’re going to move forward in this discussion,” he said.

“This is my priority.

“Malcolm being such a colourful character … he just inspires such intense passions in people.

People love Malcolm or people loath Malcolm, and there’s no in between.”

Mr Turnbull’s appointment had been supported at cabinet by Gladys Berejiklian, several sources involved in the discussions said, with the Premier telling the room “there’s no one who can question his credentials”.

“Once she does that, everyone just completely backs off,” one cabinet source said.

Coalition figures said backbench pressure to reconsider Mr Turnbull’s appointment began the moment news of his new position was leaked to 2GB radio on March 29 but intensified after he told The Sydney Morning Herald two days later that approvals for new mines were “out of control”.

The NSW government has dropped Malcolm Turnbull as the chairman of its net zero emissions board just days after announcing the appointment pic.twitter.com/tIFQDDKb47

— Kylar Loussikian (@kloussikian) April 5, 2021

Mr Turnbull, who said he was speaking as a private citizen, called for a halt on new mines.

Mr Barilaro has accused Mr Turnbull of “severely misinterpreting his role” as chairman.

“Under no circumstances did this appointment provide him with a mandate to criticise the mining industry … as a result of his comments, the NSW government has decided not to proceed with the appointment,” he said.

Some Liberal MPs have privately criticised the move to dump Mr Turnbull.

“These right-wingers weren’t outraged about Brittany Higgins being raped in Parliament House, they weren’t outraged by Michael Johnsen procuring a sex worker to come to Parliament House, but they were outraged by the appointment of someone eminently qualified to help implement NSW government policy,” a Liberal MP said on condition of anonymity.

Of most concern to Coalition figures was Mr Turnbull’s views on coalmining at a time when the issue could be a significant vote-changer in Upper Hunter.

Labor is expected to announce coalminer Jeff Drayton as its candidate within days, while Mr Barilaro and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet are scheduled to tour coalmines in the electorate this week.

The Telegraph on Tuesday reported Mr Turnbull had last week written to the NSW Planning Department objecting to expansion of the Mount Pleasant coalmine near his property, objecting to the project that would extend the life of the mine for decades.

NSW Chief Scientist Hugh Durrant-Whyte will act as the board’s chairman.

How on earth did it even come to this? John Barilaro backed Turnbull’s appointment in Cabinet.

This should never have been a political appointment and was always going to divisive.

A monumental failure of judgment by John Barilaro. https://t.co/h97M2BRqng

— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) April 6, 2021