National to seek more control over climate policies after return of Barnaby Joyce

Barnaby Joyce will demand ­greater control over climate policy in a new pre-election Coalition agreement with Scott Morrison.

Newly-elected Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce acknowledged his ’faults’, which forced his resignation as leader three years ago. Picture: AAP

Barnaby Joyce will demand ­greater control over future climate change policy and push for more senior ministerial portfolios in a new pre-election Coalition agreement with Scott Morrison after ousting Michael McCormack as Nationals leader.

The Prime Minister and Mr Joyce will negotiate terms for a new agreement this week, with the Nationals expected to focus on ­clearer language on net-zero emissions and coal-fired power, as well as commitments on boosting regional infrastructure, water security and decentralisation.

Following his election, Mr Joyce pledged to take a more consultative approach to leadership and reflect “Nationals policy” rather than “Barnaby policy” in a bid to unify the party.

But a range of MPs immediately pushed demands for new coal-fired power stations and criticised the political movement urging the adoption of a net zero emissions target by 2050.

Appearing alongside Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud and Senate leader Bridget McKenzie after his victory in the party room vote, Mr Joyce said he would try to be a “better person”.

He acknowledged his “faults”, which forced his resignation as leader three years ago after revelations of an extramarital affair with a member of his staff and sexual harassment allegations that he denied.

“I resigned. I’ve spent three years on the backbench. I don’t walk away from making sure that I can be a better person to do a better job,” Mr Joyce said. “And I’m reminded by that by the people that I love dearly – my four daughters, my two sons and Vikki.”

Michael McCormack. Picture: AAP

The Australian understands Mr Joyce’s victory was closely linked to a succession plan, with the New England MP expected to lead the party to an election before transitioning to a new leader.

Mr Joyce will be sworn in as deputy prime minister by Governor-General David Hurley on Tuesday and his elevation will spark a ministerial reshuffle.

Mr Littleproud, Resources Minister Keith Pitt and Senator McKenzie were tipped to have secured cabinet positions while Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester’s position was in doubt.

Mr McCormack said that whether he remained in cabinet would be a question for the new leader while former resources minister Matt Canavan — a supporter of Mr Joyce who called on the spill — told The Australian he would not seek a return to the frontbench. NSW MP Andrew Gee is expected to remain in the ministry and Queensland senator Susan McDonald is tipped for promotion.

Mr Joyce is understood to have won the leadership contest with at least 12 votes in the 21-member partyroom after Mr Littleproud chose not to contest the leadership.

Following his victory, Mr Joyce spoke to Mr Morrison via secure video link, arguing he could be an asset to the Coalition in Queensland and the NSW Hunter region at the upcoming election.

Senior Morrison government sources said Mr Joyce’s campaigning ability would be a major positive and there was optimism he could bring the Nationals party room with him in reaching a joint Coalition approach on climate change policy.

The Australian understands Mr Morrison, who has not ­followed Labor in adopting a net zero emissions by 2050 target, will assure Mr Joyce the government plans to continue with its practical response to climate change, based on low-emissions technologies and support for hydrogen.

Negotiations between the two leaders are expected to focus on the need for Australia to remain competitive in securing trade deals, avoiding tariffs on exports and attracting foreign investment. Other elements of talks would likely include carving out key ­industries in any acceleration of emissions-reduction goals.

Mr Joyce said his approach to a net zero emissions targets in negotiations with Mr Morrison would not be “Barnaby policy, it’s ­Nationals policy”.

Scott Morrison take part in question time from quarantine in Canberra on Monday. Picture: Martin Ollman

“Nationals policy is what I will be an advocate for and if the Nationals party room believes that the best deal for regional Australia is to make sure we secure their jobs, is to make sure we secure their industries, is to clearly understand the dynamics of an Australian economy as opposed to a Danish one or a German one – if that’s the view of the Nationals party room then I’ll support (it),” he said.

Mr Littleproud said the party had to “draw a line in the sand and get on with the job” while Senator McKenzie said it was “time to unify our party”.

Nationals MPs Ken O’Dowd and David Gillespie, both of whom voted for Mr Joyce, said following the party room meeting that they wanted the ban on ­nuclear power generation lifted and expressed deep concern about any net zero emissions target.

Mr O’Dowd, who is vacating the Queensland seat of Flynn at the next election, expected Mr Joyce to back new coal-fired ­stations in central Queensland and the Hunter Valley. He argued for mining and agriculture to be carved-out of any net zero target.

Mr Gillespie said he was reluctant about “locking in” any net-zero emissions target while his NSW Senate colleague, Perin Davey, backed in new coal-fired power stations.

“If other countries are doing it why shouldn’t we look at it? We need to get serious and stop this idealistic utopian philosophy that we can suddenly turn off coal, turn off gas, have no nuclear,” Senator Davey said.

With Mr Morrison in a virtual appearance in question time from the Lodge where he is in quarantine, Anthony Albanese attacked the Coalition over its climate change commitments and the high turnover of leaders since the 2013 election.

Mr McCormack, forced to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair during question time and lead the government in the chamber because Mr Joyce had not been sworn in, defended the Coalition’s vaccine rollout under questioning from Labor.

Mr Joyce is expected to use the leadership to push hard on dams, regional infrastructure and decentralisation — key issues he pushed as leader between 2016 and 2018.

He is also likely to argue the Nationals should be allocated senior ministerial portfolios traditionally held by the country party, including trade. Under current allocations, the Nationals hold the infrastructure and transport, agriculture, resources and veteran affairs portfolios.

Mr Morrison said he looked forward to Mr Joyce returning to cabinet and flagged the need for the Liberals and Nationals to work together as a “strong government” ahead of the election, which is due by May. “We’ve got a lot do, there’s a lot of work to be done, there’s a lot of support we need to continue to provide to rural and regional Australians,” he said.

Nationals federal president Kay Hull said Mr Joyce would need to unite women voters and party members to be successful in the leadership. “That’s going to be up to Barnaby, how he manages that,” she said.