Canberra Liberals MLAs criticised for attending Young Liberals ball with coal lump auction

The $160-a-head winter ball, organised by the ACT Young Liberals, was held on Saturday at Hotel Realm. The event featured an auction and keynote address by conservative Liberal member of parliament Kevin Andrews, who led the push two decades ago to limit the ACT's rights to legislate on voluntary assisted dying.

Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee attended alongside MLAs Mark Parton, Peter Cain, Giulia Jones and James Milligan, photos posted to social media show.

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said he was not sure whether it was more insulting that event organisers thought it was a good idea to auction the coal or that someone paid an average person's fortnightly income for it.

"Either way, it is openly mocking the climate crisis that Australia and the world faces. I'd like to see the Canberra Liberal MLAs in attendance to disavow this behaviour, and agree that climate change, burning fossil fuels and the Adani mine are matters to take seriously, not to laugh at," Mr Rattenbury said.

"We need a firm plan to get out of coal and gas, cut emissions and deal with the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Anything less is a reckless denial of reality."

The $2600 sale of the Adani Carmichael mine coal lump at auction, first reported by The Australian on Monday, was not advertised prior to the event.

Mr Andrews is also understood not to have discussed territory rights, but instead spoke in support of growing the Liberal Party's membership.

A spokesman for Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said Ms Lee's party was still committed to net-zero emissions by 2045 in the ACT.

"This included a strong commitment to protecting our local environment and support for Canberra to become a world leader in clean energy technology innovation through our universities," the spokesman said.

But the spokesman ignored direct questions on whether Ms Lee thought the auction was appropriate or whether she endorsed the sale.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison infamously brandished a lump of coal in Federal Parliament during a 2017 question time. "This is coal. Don't be afraid, don't be scared. It won't hurt you!" the then treasurer said, taunting the opposition.

The youth wing of the Liberal Party in Canberra is notoriously conservative, and generally loyal to ACT senator Zed Seselja. But there is also a growing number of disgruntled members who remain loyal to the Canberra Liberals, but have distanced themselves from the Young Liberals.

A video was posted to the ACT Young Liberals Facebook page of former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a leading campaigner for Brexit turned anti-Covid-lockdown advocate, endorsing the event. The video appeared to be a paid clip from celebrity endorsement service Cameo.

Meanwhile, Ms Lee was forced to distance herself from Mr Seselja last month, when push-polling organised on behalf of the senator sought to draw a link between potential drug decriminalisation in the ACT and a spike in violence.

Ms Lee said she had no involvement in the survey and it was being conducted on behalf of Senator Seselja.

"As a federal representative of the ACT, the senator is entitled to seek the views of constituents on matters that impact them," Ms Lee said.

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