‘Total madness’: Senator David Pocock slams net-zero review

The Nationals' push to abandon net-zero targets has been slammed as Australia grapples with its role as a major fossil fuel exporter.

Independent senator David Pocock has labelled the National Party’s review of net-zero emissions targets as “total madness”.

Kicking off the second week of the new parliament, on Monday former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce introduced a Repeal Net Zero Bill. The Bill is unlikely to have support from Opposition Leader Susan Ley.

However, the former Nationals leader is an influential figure, even from the backbench.

“I think it’s total madness to see the path that the Coalition is taking on this,” Senator Pocock told Channel 9 on Tuesday.

“The Labor government; Yes, they’re doing something, but they’re not doing enough. It’s not actually aligned with what climate scientists are telling us.

Senator Matthew Canavan is leading the Nationals’ review of the party’s net-zero policy. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“They love to talk about how we’re a small jurisdiction. We’re actually one of the biggest fossil fuel exporters in the world, so we have a real role to play in this and Australians love punching above our weight.”

Australia produces about 1.1 per cent of global emissions. However, Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and a major gas exporter.

Despite being banished to the backbench during the Liberal and National parties’ brief split following the election drubbing, Mr Joyce holds considerable sway within the Nationals.

Unless Ms Ley drastically changes course in rebuilding the Coalition as a moderate opposition, Mr Joyce’s private member’s bill will not get far.

Nationals senate whip Matt Canavan was in June appointed to an internal Nationals committee tasked with reviewing the party’s net-zero policy.

The senator has been a longtime critic of the energy transition and fervently supports coal.

Speaking on Tuesday, Senator Canavan said he would conduct the review, would not change his position against net zero, and Australia had not debated getting to net-zero emissions.

“We need to have this fulsome debate,” he said.

“I don’t think this is working, I think the evidence is in now.

“The average Australian has just suffered since we announced net zero,” he added, citing higher electricity prices.

“Why, if coal is the cheapest form of power, isn’t the government using it?

“It’s about time we’re not led by people who clearly don’t have a grasp on how the world works.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said the Labor government had put in place investment-inducing policies.

“We have got a clear (emissions) target by 2030. We are on track to meet that target. We have clear policy parameters to give investors confident to make the decisions that the country needs,” he said.

“The important thing for the government is getting on with the job of fixing up a decade of inaction.

“We will focus on delivering and implementing that policy architecture, not the chaos and division on the other side of politics.”

Originally published as ‘Total madness’: Senator David Pocock slams net-zero review