‘He pulled my pants down’: Barilaro says Turnbull was too divisive to chair key climate body

Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced this morning Malcolm Turnbull would be removed from the running for chair of the Net Zero Emissions Board - describing the former prime minister as a controversial personality. Mr Barilaro said on Ray Hadley’s 2GB program he had personally given the benefit of the doubt to Mr Turnbull but “he pulled my pants down within 48 hours”. “We are not proceeding with the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as chair. I give credit to Matt Kean,” he said. The NSW deputy premier said the chair of the Net Zero Emissions Board shouldn’t be someone who makes “controversial” comments but instead a person who “brings people together”. “Unfortunately, Malcolm has done the opposite.” Mr Barilaro labelled the decision to not proceed with the appointment of Mr Turnbull a “great result for common sense.”