Net zero emissions hope but Nationals won’t go cool on coal

Liberal MPs are backing the goal of zero net emissions by 2050 and ­Nationals MPs are reaffirming their demand for the government to build coal-fired power stations.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce. Picture: Getty Images

The Coalition is divided over Scott Morrison’s ambition to reach zero net emissions by 2050, with Liberal MPs backing the goal and ­Nationals MPs reaffirming their demand for the government to build coal-fired power stations.

While Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie called for an end to the “fearmongering and political point scoring” about a low-emissions future on Tuesday, her own party also talked up the need to expand the coal sector.

Nationals lower house MPs Llew O’Brien and Barnaby Joyce said they would be opposed to the government formally embracing a target of zero net emissions by the middle of the century.

Mr O’Brien said party members in his Wide Bay electorate in Queensland moved a motion calling on him to reject supporting a 2050 target. “It was based around the fact that with COVID we have seen the conduct of China and the EU being all about themselves,” he said.

“If we are going to do these things we shouldn’t be bound to forces like China, who are prepared to prepared to wipe their arse on agreements with us.”

Senator McKenzie said the ­nation should “embrace a positive low emissions future”, despite ­reselling the Nationals’ Manufacturing 2035 plan that says Australia needs to build coal-fired power stations. “The Nationals want to create jobs and opportunities for rural and regional Australians. ­Affordable, reliable power is key to that,” she said.

Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan called a target of net zero emissions by 2050 “mythical” and promoted the need for a new coal-fired power station in Collinsville.

On Monday, the Prime Minister said his goal was to reach net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible, preferably by 2050, but has said his government will not “tax our way” to the climate target.

“Now is the time to focus on how we’re going to get there. So if we can produce hydrogen … at $2 a kilo, then we can get there,” Mr Morrison said. “If we can’t, it’s going to be very hard … they’re the targets I’m interested in, achieving those, because I know they’ll achieve the bigger target, which is where we’re seeking to head.”

Liberal MPs believe Mr Morrison is paving the way to formally signing Australia up to a target of zero net emissions by 2050 ahead of a UN climate change conference in Glasgow at the end of the year. Labor supports a 2050 target.

The issue will likely widen the split on climate change between the Nationals and city-based Liberal MPs and looms as Mr Morrison’s biggest internal test ahead of the election.

Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman, who represents electorate of North Sydney, said Mr Morrison voicing his preference to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 would be welcome by many voters.

“They have seen (Mr Morrison) place a time frame around our commitment to net-zero,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“This is really important to providing certainty to both the community but also our scientists and our businesses that will be providing the technology that we need to achieve this goal.”

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean, a leading figure in the state’s moderate faction, said: “Australia has everything to gain from reaching net zero emissions.

“With the rest of the world moving, Australia can’t afford to be left behind.”