The document that sums up the Nationals concerns was drafted by a working group comprising Nationals deputy leader and Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, Senate leader and Regionalisation Minister Bridget McKenzie, Resources Minister Keith Pitt and Assistant Minister Kevin Hogan, who represents the seat of Page on the north coast of NSW.
Asked on Wednesday morning if there was a price on the party’s demands for regional Australia, Mr Littleproud said: “Money makes the world go around” but did not endorse claims of a $20 billion figure.
“We are working through that to make sure there is not a huge price to this,” he told the ABC.
“Using the smarts of technology and reform in protecting regional Australia, we aren’t thinking about 30 pieces of silver. We are thinking more about the policy settings to ensure we protect regional Australia and help grow it.”
Nationals MPs, speaking on condition they were not named, said they expected the net zero target to be opposed by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, Queensland MP George Christensen and a handful of others who could make up about one-third of the party room.
Some said there was still a level of apprehension among MPs outside the group of determined opponents, making it hard to tell if there was a majority.
A net zero target would bring the government into line with industry groups such as the National Farmers’ Federation, the Cattle Council and the Business Council of Australia.
Federal cabinet has considered the policy measures needed to reach the 2050 target but the details have been kept confidential while the Nationals discuss their position.
Labor attacked the government on Thursday for not revealing its plans and challenged Mr Pitt, one of those who questions the net zero goal, to explain what the government modelling showed for the industry he oversees.
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“There is a range of modelling all over the place about all sorts of things,” Mr Pitt said, but he backed the government in finding an outcome with the Nationals on net zero.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese sought to turn the climate debate into a test for Mr Morrison in question time about when the Prime Minister could make a decision rather than waiting for the Nationals to decide the outcome.
“The government has been in office for nearly a decade, the Prime Minister is leaving for Glasgow a week from now, but he still doesn’t have any policy,” Mr Albanese said.
“Why does the Prime Minister always delay, always blame others [and] when he does act it’s always too little and too late?”
Government MPs rejected the claim they had no policy, given spending decisions and a technology roadmap issued last year, but there has been no update to these measures to explain how the net zero target would be reached.
Mr Morrison responded to the Labor attack by confirming the government’s target to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030, a goal criticised by environmental groups as being far too small when the United Nations has called on leaders to commit to 45 per cent.
Labor is yet to decide whether it will stand by the 45 per cent target it took to the last election, leaving its policy in doubt while it attacks the government.
“Now, there was another policy, it was put forward by the Labor Party, it was for a 45 per cent reduction in emissions and the Labor Party have walked away from that policy,” Mr Morrison told Parliament.
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“They say that’s no longer their policy. So there’s an obvious question: What is the Labor Party’s commitment on 2030? Nobody knows.”
Mr Morrison said on Thursday the government would do the right thing by rural and regional Australia with a net zero target that could protect industries and jobs.
“We’ve reduced emissions 20 per cent on 2005 levels. The United States can’t say that. New Zealand can’t say that. Canada can’t say that. We can,” he said.
Nationals list their demands on Morrison to clear way for net zero
Source: Philippines Alive
