Promising “Rainbows and puppies” will deliver net zero votes: Canavan
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the Collinsville coal-fired station should go ahead even under net zero emissions. It comes after Queensland Senator Matt Canavan smashed the government’s net zero slogan during a joint meeting of the Coalition parties.
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The proposed Collinsville coal-fired power station should still go ahead even under net zero emissions, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says.
National MPs are continuing to debate their position on the Morrison Government committing to a net zero emissions by 2050 policy.
Mr Joyce said he was collating views and concerns from his party and would present them to the Prime Minister by the end of the week.
“These are the concerns we have got from regional areas we need addressed,” he said.
But asked about whether he still supported a new coal-fired power station in central Queensland, he confirmed he would.
“I do support coal-fired power,” Mr Joyce said.
“Sometimes this has become like religious statements, that really annoys me.
“Some people just go, you are not allowed to say the word coal, the Labor party can hardly say the word coal.
“It‘s like Yaweh (the name of the God of the Israelites), you’re not allowed to say it otherwise you’re stoned to death.
“I would be happy for Collinsville to go ahead, yes, absolutely.”
Despite furious debate taking place this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg did not mention the government’s proposed commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 during a joint meeting of the Coalition parties on Tuesday.
But Senator Canavan spoke out at the meeting saying that when the Federal Government “stood by its values” and backed the Adani coal mine in 2019 it won the election, despite polling showing the mine was unpopular.
He said the 2016 election, which Malcolm Turnbull almost lost, was based on polling promising “rainbows and puppies” and a “jobs and growth” slogan which meant nothing.
“Technology not taxes will be ‘jobs and growth’ 2.0,” Senator Canavan said referencing the government’s slogan on reaching net zero.
He said the party should at least consider adding nuclear power into the debate on how to reach emissions reductions targets.
Speaking to The Courier-Mail, Senator Canavan said the Coalition needed to make hard choices if they wanted to be believed by voters on climate and to take people with them.
“Technology not taxes will be jobs and growth 2.0. It sounds too good to be true,” he said.
“To get something good in life you have to make hard choices.
“There’s a much greater chance to take people with us if we take the choice that may not be popular but will get us there.
“People will more believe that we can deliver net zero if we’re willing to have the guts to make a hard decision.”
He said Labor filled a policy vacuum in 2016 with the “Mediscare” fear campaign, false claims the Coalition intended to scrap Medicare, and warned the same could happen again.
“In 2016 the approach seemed to be pick what people like, puppies and rainbows,” Senator Canavan said.
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