While the world’s leaders congregate in Madrid to discuss the urgent task of cutting down global carbon emissions, federal Coalition MP Craig Kelly has urged his fellow Australians to burn as much oil and gas as possible over the summer break.

Kelly – who was recently banned by Scott Morrison from appearing on ABC TV’s Q&A program for his inability, unlike the PM, to mask his raging climate denialism – reportedly made the comments to the audience of an event hosted by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association in Canberra on Wednesday.



According to a source who attended the APPEA event, Kelly said words to the effect of ‘make sure you burn as much oil and gas as you can over summer, put your roast in a gas fired oven, fill up your gas bottles, and fly from one end of the country to the other.’

The appalling comments come as Australia notches up two “Fossil of the Day” awards at the Madrid climate talks, one for the federal government’s weak response to the current bushfire crisis, and another for using First Nations people to try and dodge climate bill.

The APPEA event was attended by members of both the Morrison government and the opposition Australian Labor Party, with APPEA Chairman Kevin Gallagher applauding what he described as “bipartisanship” on resources policy. There is certainly no such thing as a bipartisan approach when it comes to policy on climate or renewable energy.

When bipartisanship exists on resources policy, everyone is better off in Australia including consumers and businesses, says APPEA Chairman @KT_Gallagher1 @SantosLtd #oilandgas pic.twitter.com/lvUgRHnoDo — APPEA (@APPEALtd) December 4, 2019

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources Joel Fitzgibbon was one of the senior Labor Party members in attendance, and tweeted a photo with himself next to Matt Canavan and World Coal Association CEO Michelle Manook, spruiking the strong future global demand for coal.

A good chat about strong future global demand for coal with @mattjcan & World Coal Association Chief Executive Michelle Manook pic.twitter.com/lNIaDtLqGn — Joel Fitzgibbon (@fitzhunter) December 5, 2019

This all comes in a week where bushfires are burning up and down the NSW coast and continue to cast a toxic pall over Sydney.