“It’s all a beat up”: Karl Stefanovic’s tense clash with Scott Morrison
The Prime Minister has rejected claims by an outspoken Liberal colleague that senior frontbench MPs are tired of his failure to act on climate change.
But Scott Morrison refuted those claims which were made by NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean as “a beat up” during his appearance on the Today show this morning.
“It’s all a beat up,” he said.
Mr Kean who is actively trying to reduce the aggressive emissions target for the NSW Government, told Sky News on Sunday that Morrison is outnumbered within his own party.
“I don’t think it’s just moderates that want more action when it comes to reducing our emissions, I think it’s people right across the party,” Kean told host Sharri Markson.
“It’s not just moderates that have been breathing in the smoke. It’s not just moderates that have seen the ash falling out of the sky. It’s not just moderates that have seen the devastating impacts these bushfires have had on people, property and our beautiful, natural environment,” he said.
“There is widespread support for the Prime Minister to take strong action when it comes to climate change and I understand a group of moderate MPs, and MPs right across the party, from different states, different factions, all want to see decisive and responsible action.”
Mr Kean said “some of the most senior members of the government” were turning on the PM and that Morrison should look at the UK where “Boris Johnson … is leading the world when it comes to climate change”.
“The country has been burning. We now have floods, we now have horrific dust storms. Homes have been lost, we’ve lost lives. The country is grieving.” @karlstefanovic on Scott Morrison facing calls from within his own party to do more to take action on climate change. #9Today pic.twitter.com/h1bJ3Oirpx
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) 19 January 2020
But when Morrison was asked to address the rumours, he quickly shut them down.
“Do you see it as a problem that even your own party is not happy with your stand?” Asked Karl Stefanovic.
“I don’t accept that position at all,” said Morrison.
“Our party’s taken a unified position on these issues to the last election. I will keep to it. We will meet and beat our emissions reductions targets. Emissions are falling under our target.
“We know the summers are longer, hotter, dryer. We are addressing them. We acknowledge the link between these things and will have a balanced policy which doesn’t put people out of their jobs.
But Stefanovic was just getting started.
“If I can put it this way, the country has been burning,” he told the Prime Minister.
“We now have floods. We now have these horrific dust storms. Homes have been lost. We’ve lost lives. And country is grieving. Farmers are shooting their own cattle. They can’t put food on the table. I think there is a perception right of wrong you aren’t leading the country on climate change.
“People aren’t satisfied with what you’re doing. Are you not concerned in any way, shape of form, that you are out of step with what everyday Australians are thinking and feeling during this crisis?”
The pair spoke over each other during what started becoming a tense interview.
“Longer, hotter, dryer summers and all the things that you mentioned are the terrible experience we’ve had and we can expect these sort of conditions into the future,” said Morrison.
“I think there’s a lot of misinformation out there Karl. For example, we will reduce our carbon emissions per capita by half between now and 2030. We are leading the world on renewable investments in technology and energy in this country. There are the facts Karl.
“People don’t want me to take reckless policies which threatens people’s jobs. That’s why we’re meeting and beating the emissions reduction targets. Emissions coming down. Investments and renewable technology is up.”
Stefanovic then asked whether the comments Kean made were true.
“No,” he replied.
“Not at all?”
“No, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“So he’s … are you dismissing what he’s saying?”
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. I think Matt should focus on hazard reduction and I will focus on emissions reduction.”
“You are not worried about your own party at all? You aren’t worried about rats in the ranks?”
“No, it’s all a beat up.”