Barnaby Joyce says the emissions debate within the Coalition will soon be over

The debate within the government over emissions policy is likely to be resolved on Thursday after deputy PM Barnaby Joyce said he expects a result “within the next day.”

The Nationals are prepared to hand Prime Minister Scott Morrison a list of grievances with his net zero emissions policy, but deny they are “selling” their support for cash.

In a sign the government’s climate policy standoff could be finally drawing to an end, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Wednesday announced he intended to report his colleagues’ concerns back to Mr Morrison “within … the next day”.

“We are going to make sure that the Prime Minister of Australia is reported back to as soon as possible,” Mr Joyce said.

He denied the Nationals were “grandstanding” on the plan for Australia to reach net zero emissions by 2050, insisting his party was simply being “diligent”.

Deputy Prime Minister says the emissions standoff will soon be resolved. Picture: Gary Ramage / NCA NewsWire

Mr Joyce has been working through the policy proposal with a four-person subcommittee including Nationals cabinet ministers Bridget McKenzie and David Littleproud, frontbench minister Keith Pitt and junior minister Kevin Hogan.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly said the net zero policy he takes to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow would be determined “by the federal cabinet” and not one party room.

But Ms McKenzie warned there could be consequences if Mr Morrison forged ahead without Nationals’ approval.

“It will be ugly,” she said.

Ms McKenzie denied suggestions the Nats’ list of demands came with a massive price tag, reported to be as high as $20 billion but called for a guarantee that ­renewable energy projects would generate long-term jobs in ­regional Australia.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the government had become a “rabble without a cause”.

Originally published as Barnaby Joyce says the emissions debate within the Coalition will soon be over