Anthony Albanese government approves new Ensham colliery as Blue-Green MP Monique Ryan stirs up controversy

Teal MP Monique Ryan has sparked a furious backlash after she criticized Anthony Albanese’s government for approving a new coal project on its ‘hottest day on record’.

The independent Melbourne MP for Kooyong was labeled a hypocrite after posting on Twitter: ‘The world has just had its hottest day on record.

On the same day, Labor approved a new thermal coal mine. Climate change is here and Labor needs to start taking it seriously.’

But she sparked outrage because she took 27 business class flights costing $28,000 during her first year in parliament.

It is known that business class flights produce three times more CO2 emissions than economy class.

The Twitter spat erupted after Labor signed a nine-year extension for the Ensham mine in Japan, 200km west of Rockhampton in central Queensland.

Japan’s Ensham mine (pictured) will produce 4.5 million tonnes of coal a year and is the first thermal coal project to be approved by the Labor government since the 2022 election

It will mine 4.5 million tonnes of coal a year and is the first thermal coal project approved by the Labor government since it came to power in May 2022.

Despite election promises to impose tougher emissions targets and make greater use of renewable energy, Labor has expanded natural gas and coal production.

Approval for a metallurgical coal mine was given in May and last year Labor also opened nearly 47,000 square kilometers of Australian waters to oil and gas exploration.

Labor’s latest decision on Wednesday came after it was announced that Earth was having its hottest day on record, although that record was broken the very next day.

The average global temperature reached 17.01C on Monday, surpassing the record high of 16.92C set in August 2016 as heat waves sizzled around the world.

On Tuesday it hit 17.18C and remained there on Wednesday, with experts warning more records are likely to fall as a new El Nino cycle begins.

On Tuesday, the average global temperature hit a record high of 17.18°C and remained there on Wednesday, with experts warning more records are likely to fall as a new El Nino cycle begins

Southern US states have been battling intense heat in recent weeks, while China has seen consistent temperatures above 35C and mercury in North Africa approaching 50C.

Even Antarctica in the middle of winter has seen unusually high temperatures, with the Argentine Islands reaching a new July high of 8.7C.

But Dr Ryan – who ousted former treasurer Josh Frydenburg in the last election – was attacked online when she tried to use the new data to attack Labour.

“How many flights have you been on this year?” demanded one.

“27 business class flights in one year, Mom!” hit another. “Someone is incredibly hypocritical! How embarrassing!

“Stop treating the people with their eyes open like fools.”

Dr. Ryan was found to have taken the most business class flights of any of her blue-green colleagues in parliament, mainly on the Melbourne to Canberra route.

Zoe Daniels, the Goldstein MP from Melbourne, flew business four times and Sophie Scamps, the Mackellar MP from Sydney, once, but none of the others took one.

Anthony Albanese’s government approved a metallurgical coal mine in May and also opened nearly 47,000 square kilometers of Australian waters to oil and gas exploration last year

The Ensham coal mine is currently owned by Japan’s Idemitsu, but has sold its interest in the project to South African company Sungel, which will take over the operation.

It will produce about 1/40th of Australia’s total thermal coal exports and was criticized by Greens leader Adam Bandt when the decision was confirmed.

“Labour’s current climate strategy is to condemn a decade of Liberal passivity in Parliament, hoping you don’t notice their massive expansion of coal and gas at the same time,” he said.

Energy Minister Tanya Plibersek defended the approval, saying it met environmental conditions, insisting she had blocked three other coal mines since taking power.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr. Ryan for comment.