Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is refusing to go quietly after being dumped from a NSW climate change board, accusing the state government of being swayed by global warming deniers and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
Speaking on Today, Mr Turnbull claimed the Berejiklian government "couldn't take the heat" from "thugs and bullies" and cut him loose.
"The fossil fuel lobby, the coal lobby with their supporters in the Murdoch media are very influential, very powerful," Mr Turnbull said, one day after being sensationally axed.
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"They don't believe in net zero emissions.
"They don't believe in global warming or doing anything about it.
"So someone like me who takes those issues seriously is someone to be opposed."
Mr Turnbull was yesterday removed from the new Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy board, just one week after being given the job.
The former PM has been an outspoken critic of coal mine expansion in the Upper Hunter, where he said plans to further mine the region were "out of control".
"They want to keep ripping up that valley for open cut coal mines even though export demand for coal is declining, even though existing mines are operating below capacity."
Mr Turnbull said his plan was not to close mines but to carefully transition to clean renewables.
Mining in the Upper Hunter, a huge provider of jobs in the area, was damaging the landscape and a major health risk, he said.
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"Muswellbrook has the worst air quality in NSW," Mr Turnbull said.
He accused NSW deputy premier John Barilaro and NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham of "gaslighting" the people of Muswellbrook over air safety concerns.
Mr Latham has previously labelled the former PM an "anti-coal activist" who wants to destroy coal mining in the region.
Mr Turnbull said his plan was not to close mines but transition to clean renewables.
