David Littleproud flags lifting ban on nuclear energy as the only pathway to net-zero emissions

Nationals leader David Littleproud says the net zero emissions by 2050 target will be unreachable without nuclear power, signalling the Coalition could abandon its plan to build government-owned reactors.

Nationals leader David Littleproud, centre, with Kevin Hogan and Bridget McKenzie. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

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Nationals leader David Littleproud says the net-zero emissions by 2050 target will be unreachable without nuclear power, signalling the Coalition could abandon its plan to build government-owned reactors and instead push to simply lift the ban on atomic energy.

As discussions continued on Monday between Sussan Ley and Mr Littleproud on the next ­Coalition agreement, Mr Littleproud said a renewables-only approach would not support the Australian economy and the nation “can’t get to net zero without nuclear energy”.

Consensus within the Coalition on energy policy has continued to fray, with opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume opposing dumping the ­­net-zero target because it would be “consistent” with what voters wanted from their government.

Mr Littleproud said the pace of negotiations on the Coalition agreement had slowed as the Opposition Leader took time to grieve after her mother passed away from Saturday.

He said discussions on net zero would take place separately in each partyroom, and reaffirmed the Nationals’ support for the ­target despite opposition within his own ranks.

“You can’t get to net zero without nuclear energy,” Mr Littleproud told Channel 7.

“Now, whether it’s specifically the policy that we took around government-owned, or whether it’s simply removing the moratorium, I think you have to be pragmatic.

“You cannot do an all-renewables approach and keep the economy going.”

After the Coalition’s devastating election defeat on May 3, Senator Hume said she was concerned abandoning the internationally agreed target would alienate the party from its support base.

“By the time we get to that next election, we want to make sure we have a credible policy approach,” Senator Hume told Sky News.

“Now on net zero, I have a personal opinion on that, of course, and you know that would be that the electorate has sent us a very clear message what it is that they want in their government.

“Abandoning net zero I don’t necessarily think is consistent with that.”

Both party leaders have said their policy platform, including their support of the net zero target, were under review as they look to revitalise after the election result.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said the focus should be on reducing emissions and shoring up the supply of “stable, reliable power”.

He also raised concerns that shelving the net-zero target could place Australia at odds with its international partners, saying if you want to reduce emissions you’ve got to be “part of a global agreement”.

“We’re a trade-exposed nation. Being part of international agreements to reduce emissions has been a long feature of Australian policy, but we have to resolve that the implementation of net zero, or any other commitment, is in Australia’s interests,” he said.

Ms Ley wrote in The Australian her party is debating a new course on climate change but does not consider the diversity of views in her team to be a “weakness”.

Liberal defector Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who left the Nationals partyroom shortly after the election, has also weighed in on the issue saying that net-zero emissions by 2050 is “impossible” without nuclear power.