Former PM laments coalition’s anti-climate ‘religion’
He says fossil fuel bigotry, not economics, is fueling the anti-climate views of Malcolm Turnbull’s former coalition colleagues, including the newly elected National Party leader.
The former prime minister says a growing proportion of the Liberals and Nationals are living in a “right-wing, fact-free, anger-fueled culture war bubble”.
During his time in politics, Mr Turnbull has failed to convince a group of mostly National Party politicians that it is not possible to build more than one state-funded coal power plant at a time when the economy is leaning towards renewables.
He said the group, which includes newly installed National leader Matt Canavan and now One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, was not concerned about the finances.
“For them it’s religion,” Mr Turnbull said at Sydney Climate Action Week.
“That’s basically the problem; they’re disconnected from reality.”
Senator Canavan, a vocal critic of net zero, took over as leader of the National Party following the shock resignation of David Littleproud on Tuesday.
Explaining his energy policy position at a press conference, Senator Canavan said low energy prices should always take precedence over climate or renewable energy targets.
“That is not the aim of this government. Their aim is to meet arbitrary emissions or renewable energy targets that do not serve the Australian people,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Australia is transitioning from a grid powered by coal-fired electricity generation to one dominated by renewables and storage.
The federal government is pursuing clean energy to meet climate goals and replace aging coal stations with new power plants. The cheapest resources of the new generation.
Communications expert Ed Coper, CEO of marketing agency Populares, says the energy transition has become the target of online misinformation campaigns, the “new front” of the climate wars.
The biggest beneficiaries of social media platforms are those who can weaponize algorithms that reward anger.
During the panel discussion, Mr. Coper said the risk was that outside views would become too dominant.
“The real danger is that the support and social license experienced by the energy transition in Australia is softer than we think.”
Kate Hook, co-convener of Climate 200 and former independent candidate for Calare, described the 2025 federal election as Australia’s largest ever coordinated disinformation campaign.
He said fossil fuel-aligned organizations mobilized millions, often under the guise of third-party organizations, to skew election results away from climate action.
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