Rainbows, puppies and a coal-fired power station: climate debate continues

A maverick Nationals senator has warned his colleagues they must be open to nuclear power if net-zero is to become a reality.

Promising “rainbows and puppies” on the net-zero debate, without making the hard choice to back nuclear power, will lead to a repeat of the disastrous 2016 “jobs and growth” election, Senator Matt Canavan has warned his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he would be happy for the proposed Collinsville coal-fired power station to go ahead, even under a net-zero policy.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

National MPs are continuing to debate their position on the Federal Government committing to a policy of net-zero emissions by 2050.

While Cabinet will meet on Wednesday, it will not be making a decision on the net zero policy.

Mr Joyce said he was collating views and concerns from his party and would present them to Prime Minister Scott Morrison by the end of the week.

“These are the concerns we have got from regional areas we need addressed,” he said.

Asked if he still supported a new coal-fired power station in central Queensland, he confirmed he would.

“I would be happy for Collinsville to go ahead, yes, absolutely.”

“Some people just go, you are not allowed to 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.”

Senator Canavan raised fears the Coalition was alienating its own supporters in regional Australia, who turned against the party in 2016 under then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull who used the slogan “jobs and growth”.

“ ‘Technology not taxes’ will be ‘jobs and growth 2.0’,” Senator Canavan said.

“People will more believe that we can deliver net zero if we’re willing to have the guts to make a hard decision (on nuclear).”

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan. Picture: Gary Ramage / NCA NewsWire

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.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the National party’s debate was a “pantomime” and the government would take a net zero policy to the COP2M6 climate summit in Glasgow in a fortnight.

“You have the absurdity of people who are National Party ministers and front benchers, including Cabinet ministers, no less than the Deputy Prime Minister, not supporting the Government’s policy,” he said.