Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce denies Nationals are holding Liberals ‘ransom’ on net zero

New coal-fired power stations still have a future in Australia, says Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce. as he denies the Nationals are holding the Liberals to “ransom.”

New coal-fired power stations still have a future in Australia even if the country commits to net-zero emissions says Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

As Nationals MPs continue to debate the federal government’s plan to reach net zero by 2050, Mr Joyce has revealed he will collate the concerns of his colleagues and present them to Prime Minister Scott Morrison for further discussion at the end of the week.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time on Tuesday. Picture: Gary Ramage / NCA NewsWire

“It’s not unnecessary procrastination and grandstanding or ransom, this is within this Coalition of two parties, this is our party’s fears and concerns,” he said.

Despite the COP26 Glasgow climate summit looming at the end of the month, Cabinet will not be making a decision on the net zero policy when ministers meet on Wednesday.

Mr Morrison has indicated the government will have a final position on net-zero before he attends the summit.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says he would welcome a new coal fired power station in Queensland if it stacked up.

On Tuesday Mr Joyce claimed talking about a coal was becoming like a “religious statement” where those who supported net zero were not permitted to mention the word.

“It’s like (name for the god of the Israelites) Yahweh, you know you’re not allowed to say it, otherwise they’ll stone you to death,” he said.

Asked if he would be happy to see the proposed new coal-fired power station at Collinsville in central Queensland go ahead, Mr Joyce said “yeah absolutely”.

A business case is currently assessing the feasibility of the station.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is collating the views of his colleagues on net zero emissions by 2050. Picture: Gary Ramage / NCA NewsWire

The Nationals have been presented with economic modelling showing the impacts of Australia shifting to net zero, but Mr Joyce argued all numbers are fallible.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the National party’s debate was a “pantomime”.

“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.