‘No different to China’: Nationals climate fight heating up

Australia giving in to international pressure on net-zero emissions is no different to China’s demands, a prominent Queensland Nationals figure says as the climate debate heats up.

Senior Nationals are demanding guarantees regional Australia will not foot the bill for any commitment to net-zero carbon emissions, while a prominent Queensland senator compared giving in to international pressure on the debate as “no different to China” demanding security concessions in return for trade.

Queensland‘s Matt Canavan said he will not quit the LNP or Nationals party room if the Morrison Government backed a net-zero policy, but will continue to vocally oppose it.

Queensland LNP senator Matt Canavan will continue to oppose net zero, but not quit the party if the Morrison Government backs the policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

There has been mounting pressure on the Morrison Government to sign up to the idea before the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow at the end of next month, with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce confirming it was under discussion in the Nationals’ party room.

But it’s understood there was no decision reached at the Nationals’ party room meeting on Monday, with no firm proposal from the Morrison Government yet.

Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud said regional areas had paid the price for Australia meeting Kyoto and Paris climate commitments and it was “time to square the ledger”.

“We shouldn’t have to foot that bill if we’re going to make that commitment. The Prime Minister’s made that clear, that we will not foot the bill,” Mr Littleproud told 4BC.

“Once we see the details and we work through that, the National Party will pragmatically work through it.”

Senator Canavan said Australia should not give into international pressure on net zero, saying the cost would be astronomical and “put a lot of people out of work”.

“It‘s no different to China saying they will do more trade with us if we give in to their 14 grievances,” he said.

“We should take the same approach to that as we do with China, say ‘bugger off’.”

Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud says regional Australia will not foot the bill for any net zero emissions commitment. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Senator Canavan said while it was hypothetical, he would remain in the LNP and National party even if a net zero policy was adopted by the Morrison Government.

“Our party room has always allowed individuals to express different views. I‘m a believer in sticking around and fighting it out,” he said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the Morrison Government had “net zero credibility on climate change”.

“Scott Morrison has ridiculed renewables. Ridiculed electric vehicles in the last election. They said it would end the weekend,” he said.

“Now they have you believe that they think technology and advances in technology are the way to deal with climate change.”

A government spokeswoman said a decision had yet to be made on whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison or another representative would be attending COP26 in Glasgow.