National Party: No deal on net zero unless we go nuclear

A push by the National Party to develop a domestic nuclear power industry has emerged as a key sticking point as Scott Morrison looks for support for his 2050 net-zero emissions plan.

National Party dreams of developing a domestic nuclear power industry have emerged as a key sticking point in the quest to obtain its MPs support for Scott Morrison’s plan for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Last week the Prime Minister declared his desire to take an offer for Australia to move to net zero when he travels next week to the United Nations climate change summit in Glasgow.

The move has yet to be agreed to by National Party MPs, who have asked for a series of amendments to the plan which was outlined to them last Sunday by the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor.

National Party MPs are due to meet on Sunday to consider Scott Morrison’s response to their demands delivered to the Prime Minister by his deputy, Barnaby Joyce.

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

The Sunday Telegraph has been told the demands include changes to federal legislation that would open the way to nuclear power in Australia.

Nuclear power is banned in Australia under an act which states that no minister can permit the construction or operation of a nuclear fuel fabrication plant, a nuclear power plant, an enrichment plant or a reprocessing facility.

Several National Party MPs are on the record as supporting a domestic nuclear power industry and the issue was raised during last Sunday’s party room meeting.

One MP said he estimated that seven National Party MPs are holdouts for movement on nuclear power.

“It’s true to say a number of our members won’t support net zero without nuclear,” he said.

“If they don’t do nuclear there’ll be at least seven.”

A senior Liberal Party source said he expected there would be some concession on the issue.

Any move that would open the way to a domestic nuclear power industry would be likely to make it a battleground at the next election.

The ALP has a long-standing opposition to nuclear power in Australia.

Earlier this year Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese made Labor’s support of the Government’s plan to acquire nuclear submarines conditional on no changes to the domestic nuclear regime.

Originally published as National Party: No deal on net zero unless we go nuclear