Energy split as Liberal MP Jason Falins­ki says zero target too tough

Moderate Liberal MP Jason Falins­ki says he does not think Australia can meet a net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Liberal MP Jason Falinski. Picture: AAP

Moderate Liberal MP Jason Falins­ki says he does not think Australia can meet a net-zero emissions target by 2050, as the Coalition’s energy wars escalate amid open conflict between inner-city and regional MPs.

Mr Falinski said it was worthwhile “setting a road map” on how Australia could aim for a net-zero emissions target by the middle of the century but he was doubtful the ambition could be reached.

“I don’t think we can get there,” he told The Australian. “We are an energy-exporting ­nation and we have a large agricultur­e sector and it would be very tough for us to get to zero emissions by 2050.”

Mr Falinski’s comments come as Energy Minister Angus Taylor confirmed the government would commit to a long-term emissions-reduction strategy ahead of the UN climate change conference in Glasgow in November.

Scott Morrison agreed at last year’s Pacific Island Forum to consider a net-zero emissions target­ by 2050, with the objective likely to be adopted by Anthony Albanese before Labor’s national conference this year.

The zero emissions target the Prime Minister will only support if he concludes it will not impact on jobs is the policy of more than 80 nations, including Britain and New Zealand.

Other NSW moderate MPs Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman said a net-zero emissions target should be considered. Mr Zimmerman said Mr Morrison “needs to seriously consider” committing to the ambitious target­ by mid-century.

“I think that is an opportunity for us to outline our strategies and our targets beyond 2030,” he said.

But Tasmanian conservative senator Eric Abetz said the zero emissions target was based on “emotion … (not) the substance of the issue”.

“Trying to forecast to 2050 is 30 years in advance. If you were to wind the clock back 30 years and say ‘did men and women 30 years ago predict what is happening today?’, the answer is no,” Senator Abetz said.

There was also a stoush between­ city Liberal MPs and Queensland Nationals over governm­ent support for a coal-fired power station in central Queensland, with the Morrison government funding a $4m feasibility study for Shine Energy’s proposed project in Collinsville, 85km southwest of Bowen in the Whitsundays.

Former prime minister ­Malcolm Turnbull described Nationa­ls MPs pushing for governmen­t support of a new coal-fired power station as “nuts”.

“There is no economic basis on which to build a coal-fired power station in Australia any longer,” Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Zimmerman and Mr Sharma said there should not be taxpayer support for a new coal-fired power station, which led to a rebuke from Queensland Nationals MPs Matt Canavan and ­George Christ­ensen.

“I see some are saying that we should not help coal fired power stations provide jobs because we should leave it to the market,” Senator Canavan tweeted.

“Well if that’s the view be ­consistent and argue against the billions we give to renewables every year.”

Mr Christensen criticised the “inner-city Liberal MP” for saying a new-coal fired power station should not be underwritten by government.

“Despite claims by one inner-city Liberal MP on Sky News this morning, the Morrison Liberal-National government is providing funding to coal-fired power ­projects, principally because they provide stable and reliable baseload supply,” Mr Christensen said.

“When the Collinsville clean-coal-fired power project is ready to be constructed, it will be eligible for consideration under the ­Morrison Liberal-National government’s Underwriting New Generation Investments program, which supports targeted investmen­t that will lower prices, increase competition and increas­e reliability in the energy system.

“That is exactly what a coal-fired power plant at Collinsville will do.”