Greens MP Adam Bandt wants Australia to start treating coal the same way we treat asbestos.

Speaking on Sky News, he says we shouldn’t care about the thousands of jobs that would be lost from the destruction of the coal industry.

Because… it’s a toxic substance.

“If it’s a toxic substance, you shouldn’t be selling it,” he says.

“We don’t say, ‘well there are jobs in the asbestos industry so therefore we should allow asbestos mining to continue’.”

David Speers called him out on the claim saying, “coal is not asbestos or a toxic substance.”

Click PLAY below to hear Adam Bandt’s comments

It’s not the first time Bandt has made the ridiculous comments.

Back in 2014, he refused to apologise for saying “coal is the new asbestos”, only for then-Greens leader Christine Milne to say sorry on his behalf.

Adam Bandt refuses to retract “coal is the new asbestos” comment. C Milne must now do it for him & apologise #auspol

— Joel Fitzgibbon (@fitzhunter) April 19, 2014

Ben Fordham says the comments are a kick in the teeth for the thousands of families who have lost loved ones to asbestos exposure.

“What an absolute joke Adam Bandt is to compare coal to asbestos,” says Ben.

“More than 10,000 people have died after contracting that disease [mesothelioma] since the early 80s.

“What a ridiculous thing to say, but with an idiot like Adam Bandt, I don’t think too many people will be surprised.”

Click PLAY below to hear Ben’s full comments