Nationals warn Barnaby Joyce the party can’t rule out net zero emissions by 2050 target

Nationals MPs are warning Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce that the party cannot rule out a national shift to net zero emissions by 2050.

NSW Nationals senator Perin Davey. Picture: Gary Ramage

Nationals MPs are warning Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce that the party cannot rule out a national shift to net zero emissions by 2050.

Since taking the leadership last month, Mr Joyce has repeatedly said his partyroom would ­determine his final view on net zero emissions and that he did not believe there was support for such a policy among the Nationals.

On Tuesday, several MPs from the junior Coalition partner would not rule out backing net zero emissions as long as protections were in place for rural communities.

NSW Nationals senator Perin Davey said there were opportunities in renewables for regional communities and that she wanted more detail from any net zero plan from Scott Morrison.

“We can’t say no, never, to net zero, but saying only renewables – as the left do – is as damaging as saying no net zero,” she said.

Nationals chief whip Damian Drum said the party should have “faith in technology” and warned “both sides” of the net zero debate had harmed their cases in recent months.

“Let’s not rule out, let’s see more detail … We can’t be simplistic about this, and we need to have faith in technology. Both sides have been as stupid as each other on this,” he said.

Former Nationals leader ­Michael McCormack and ex-cabinet minister Darren Chester on the weekend expressed openness to a target of net zero emissions by 2050, with the issue considered a key factor in the former’s downfall.

Resources Minister Keith Pitt said last month he did not believe the Nationals partyroom would back a net zero by 2050 target and Regionalisation Minister Bridget McKenzie – before her elevation to cabinet – warned the Prime Minister against backing a G7 communique on the target.

On Tuesday, Victorian MP Anne Webster said the “writing is on the wall” in terms of the global investment shift towards renewables but said she could not back a plan that hurt the regions.

“This would have to be a bipartisan plan … we need a clear plan on how we get there and how we protect my region,” she said.