Matt Canavan castigates fossil fuel opponents for using 'highly objectionable' term 'just transition'

Resources minister tells press club references to transition are really about job destruction

Matt Canavan has backed greater exploitation of resources such as an expansion in oil and gas drilling, including in the Great Australian Bight, and land-clearing to develop agriculture in northern Australia.

At the National Press Club on Wednesday, the resources and northern Australia minister gave an at-times fiery defence of coal, lashing opponents of burning fossil fuels for using the "highly objectionable" term of "just transition", which he said was a euphemism for destruction of jobs.