Barnaby Joyce says the Nationals will not be ‘held hostage’ over a net-zero carbon emissions reduction target
Barnaby Joyce and the Nationals have met for major discussions that could change the future of Australia, but there’s a way to go.
Climate Change
Don't miss out on the headlines from Climate Change. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After a marathon four hours of talks the Nationals emerged on Sunday with no clear agreement on a climate plan for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Discussions were “ongoing”, but divisions within are emerging as MPs express concern over the potential consequences in areas such as mining and agriculture.
MPs and Senators met in Canberra ahead of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Friday that he would attend.
Before the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Nationals will not be “held hostage” amid discussions about the plan for a net-zero carbon emissions reduction target by 2050.
While it is likely the party will eventually back the policy, it is not yet known what concessions members will demand in exchange.
Asked before the meeting whether he was concerned that if the Nationals did not agree to net-zero it would ruin the party’s chances at the next election, Mr Joyce said that was a decision for others.
“We are not in the Liberal party room. We are in the Nationals room ... we will not be held hostage to what other people may wish,” he said.
Mr Joyce said it was highly unlikely the party would support increasing the 2030 target to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels.
“On this issue, I would say no because I have got to be honest and say ‘what is your views on the room on that issue?’ I would say, no, I don’t think that is going to happen,” he said.
The party had a briefing from Energy Minister Angus Taylor, before debating the issue among themselves.
“We had a constructive and collegiate discussion about the future of our regions, traditional industries, and the jobs and communities that rely on them,” Mr Taylor said.
“There was a strong joint commitment to policies that strengthen our regions, not weaken them.
“It was also clear that there was absolutely no appetite for policies that impact jobs or add to cost of living through an explicit carbon tax or a sneaky carbon tax, which we won‘t be doing.”
The federal government has indicated it will reveal its revised emissions targets ahead of the summit, while Labor will outline its targets closer to the next election.
“We don’t know what the ambition of the government is,” Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told the Insiders program on Sunday morning.
“I think what we’ve seen (is) eight years, three prime ministers, 21 energy policies and now we’ve got the Prime Minister trying to wrangle a last minute deal with the National party about what they actually stand for.
“The government needs to govern, they’re in charge, they need to agree to net zero, they need to legislate that target and they need to set medium targets — that is the minimum that the government should be doing.”
Senator Gallagher said Labor would watch what happens in Glasgow.
“We will announce our policies in the lead-up to the election,” she said.
“I think that’s the responsible thing to do.
“We will have different components to those policies but I’m not in a position this morning to let you know exactly what they are.”
Originally published as Barnaby Joyce says the Nationals will not be ‘held hostage’ over a net-zero carbon emissions reduction target
‘Suspicious’: Huge twist in bushfire chaos
A chaotic bushfire which destroyed at least one home and burned through 1000ha of land may have been deliberately lit, authorities have revealed.
Read more
‘Not safe to return’ as Vic fires rage
At least one home has been destroyed as fires tore through more than 2000 hectares of bushland, with authorities warning of “challenging” conditions yet to come.
Read more