Greens Senator Adam Bandt also condemned Labor leader Bill Shorten for not ruling out public subsidies for new coal-fired power and for not supporting a national plan to retire coal-fired power stations.

"We need to know if a few Labor Senators are just flying a kite or if the party's policy is shifting, given that just last month Labor refused to support a Senate committee's calls for a national plan for retirement of coal-fired power stations,” he said

"We're reading reports today that two-thirds of the [Great Barrier] Reef has been affected by coral bleaching, yet Labor is powering ahead with the Adani coal mine. Bill Shorten needs to show he's genuine on coal by withdrawing Labor's backing for the Adani mine.”

Bandt said Turnbull could no longer justify “spruiking coal-fired power stations on Monday and watching an intense cyclone hit on Tuesday.

“By spruiking more coal-fired power stations, the Prime Minister is knowingly failing to protect Australians against more intense cyclones and the stress is starting to show,” he said.

“Everyone, including The Greens, are thinking of people in Queensland and we are thankful for the work of our emergency services. But we want to make sure that the next cyclone isn’t more intense and violent, so we’ll continue to hold the Prime Minister to account for his failure to protect the Australian people.

“Clean coal is a myth. Coal kills and it’s time for the Prime Minister to wake up to this reality.”