Prime Minister avoids net zero embarrassment at LNP meeting

Queensland’s LNP rank-and-file have saved the PM from a potentially embarrassing rebuke of the government’s new net-zero target after kyboshing a move by a Nationals-aligned federal hopeful.

Queensland’s LNP rank-and-file have saved the Prime Minister from a potentially embarrassing rebuke of the government’s new net-zero target, kyboshing a move by a Nationals-aligned federal hopeful at the party’s state council meeting.

LNP members, at the meeting in resource heartland Gladstone, were due to discuss three motions against a move to net-zero — items that if supported by the rank-and-file would have been seen as embarrassing for Scott Morrison.

The motions were listed low on the agenda and at risk of not being debated, prompting LNP candidate for the seat of Flynn Colin Boyce to push for them to be moved the top of the program.

But the majority disagreed, with one LNP member warning it would be damaging to the Coalition’s image to discuss what was a done deal.

“It’s not a good one (net zero target) but the reality is, it’s made, it’s an aspirational (target), there’s no legislation involved with it,” he said.

“If people want to drag it out, all you’re going to do is drag our own people down … we don’t need to do that, the decision has been made.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Morrison, in his virtual address to the party faithful at the meeting in Gladstone, focused solely on the new net-zero target and how the government’s plan wouldn’t “take away one job” or put up the price of power.

“I am determined, and I know you are too, that the gains will certainly outweigh the costs that have been imposed by decisions that have been taken well beyond our shores,” he said.

“We won’t be closing one mine, one factory, one power plant, and we won’t be telling farmers how they should be managing their own land.”

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, also in a prerecorded speech, said the Nationals were “protecting the Central Queensland coal industry” and the beef industry during net zero negotiations with the Liberals.

He also paid homage to retiring MPs Ken O’Dowd and George Christensen for providing “a clearer understanding of the length and breadth of political philosophy that is within our nation”.

Mr Christensen, who opposes the net zero by 2050 target, left the conference once it became clear the motions on emissions would not be debated that day.

Mr Boyce, who had previously voiced his opposition to the net-zero target, said “further explaining” on what the plan would mean for resource-dependent communities was needed.

But he also described the plan as the “best position” Australia could be in.

“ (Mr Morrison) said that he won’t legislate anything in respect to zero net carbon, so basically what that is saying is that any future progress towards net zero by 2050 will be flexible,” Mr Boyce said.

“If something’s not working, then we can change course, and that’s a good thing.”