Bushfires: Ministers rebuke Craig Kelly on climate change stance

Ministers have distanced themselves from Liberal MP Craig Kelly for failing to acknowledge the link between climate change and the national bushfire crisis.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly appearing on Good Morning Britain.

Senior government ministers have distanced themselves from Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly after he was blasted by two British television presenters for failing to acknowledge the link between climate change and the national bushfire crisis.

Mr Kelly was branded a “disgrace” and a “climate denier” by Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan and the show’s meteorologist, Laura Tobin, on Tuesday after he said high fuel loads, rather than global warming, were to blame for fire disaster.

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud rebuked his colleague on Tuesday, saying the controversial comments did not represent the views of the government and were a distraction from the unfolding catastrophe.

“That’s just a sideshow,” Mr Littleproud said. “He doesn’t represent the views of the government with what he’s saying there, and quite frankly I have better things to do than worry about what a backbencher says when he goes on international TV.”

Josh Frydenberg also distanced himself from Mr Kelly, declaring that while fuel loads had been a factor in the fires, climate change was contributing to hotter, drier summers. “Our view of climate change is that it’s real. We accept the science,” the Treasurer said.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Kelly’s comments were “beyond comprehension”.

“The tragedy is that he’s ­imposed those views along with a few others to ensure that Australia isn’t taking action,” the Opposition Leader said.

Scott Morrison said on Sunday that the government had always made the connection between climate change and extreme weather conditions, but Mr Kelly told Good Morning Britain there was no evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate.

“You have to look at the science and what our scientists are telling us,” he said.

Morgan fired back: “You are facing now one of the greatest ­crises you have ever faced, and there is you … who still doesn’t think this has anything to do with a heating up planet.”

Mr Kelly later rejected suggestions he had embarrassed the government with the interview.