Nationals’ net zero backflip a disaster for the regions

The National Party’s decision to abandon its net zero target is a betrayal of regional Australia and leaves flood-ravaged communities like Lismore facing the growing impacts of climate change alone, writes James May.

I live in the Northern Rivers in NSW and I am furious that the National Party has abandoned its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

Our Federal Member is their deputy leader. Kevin Hogan. His office is based in Lismore and he must know better than anyone how natural disasters can devastate communities. It’s a complete disgrace that he doesn’t support us on climate change.

Most in 2022 devastating flood In Australian history, Lismore was destroyed. People climbed onto rooftops to escape the floods and had to wait for helicopters to pull them to safety. The disaster left thousands of people homeless and caused the death of many residents.

I still remember the smell and filth that emerged when the waters receded, and the people wandering the streets in confusion and despair. Supermarket shelves were bare, telecommunications were poor, and access to money and basic needs was difficult. This scene was apocalyptic and we never want that to happen again.

My mother lived in a caravan park in Lismore and was seriously ill with cancer. He died a few days before the flood when his caravan park was covered in mud and mud. His partner of 30 years spent months in evacuation centers along with hundreds of other victims.

Lismore never recovered, and neither did many residents. The town is a shell of its former self, with deserted streets and shattered houses. People still live in caravans and pitch tents in courtyards. Many businesses did not return. The once vibrant town is now a ruin, with its empty shops and cafes and a dreary atmosphere of neglect and decay.

People in the northern rivers are afraid of summer. Every year it gets hotter, wetter and more muggy. It’s a beautiful place, but we don’t know when the next flood will come. Even the sound of rain makes us shiver.

Another extreme weather event occurred here in 2025. Hurricane Alfred moved towards the east coast. It was a threatening storm that lasted for days and filled us with fear. It made landfall near Brisbane and dropped large amounts of rain. It was a very severe storm, but thankfully there was no major damage or loss of life.

The rest of NSW has also suffered devastating floods this year. parts Hunter Valley and mid-north coast was devastated. Many towns such as Taree and Wingham were flooded and thousands of homes were damaged. 5 people died in the flood. It was shocking and a wake-up call to witness that extreme weather events will only get worse if we ignore climate change.

Many communities are still on their knees and feel abandoned by politicians. Australians have been enduring “climate wars” for decades while we clean up the mess left by natural disasters. Finally, we made progress with a bipartisan approach. Paris Agreement It will reach net zero by 2050. However, denial continued in the Coalition. The public gave the message that we want serious steps to be taken on climate change and dismissed this issue in 2022.

The coalition shrugged and suffered another major defeat at the ballot box in 2025.

Opposition Leader Susan Ley took over and swore would reflect the views of his party “modern Australia” and come back “sensible center”But that couldn’t be further from the truth. This year, climate wars broke out again in the Coalition.

The National Party has recently shown its true face. net zero discharge. It wasn’t a surprise Matt CanavanParty’s fossil fuels cheerleader takes charge review of policy. Now, senior citizens like this: David Littleproud And Bridget McKenzie “Other countries won’t achieve their goals, so why be ambitious?” They make comments like.

How about showing leadership on climate change and setting an example for the world to follow? Australia is a prosperous country well-positioned to make the transition to clean energy, but was left behind and ridiculed during the Coalition.

We have gained some respect and credibility among other countries, but they want to bring us down again.

National Party often allegations “representing the regions” with its policies. It infuriates voters like me. Unlike what Barnaby Joyce et al think we want real action on climate change in the regions. While we delay climate action, we are the ones bearing the brunt of bushfires and floods every year.

We told the coalition members what we felt at the ballot box, but they did not listen. They are busy fighting among themselves, jostling for power within their own ranks, and trying to figure out what they will represent.

Meanwhile, those of us living in the regions are afraid of more natural disasters.

national forecast It is also a hot and humid source and we can feel it in the northern rivers. There were many humid days with temperatures soaring into the 30s, severe thunderstorms and hail. We don’t know what will happen, but we are prepared for anything.

I call on our elected representatives, like Kevin Hogan and the rest of the Coalition, to stop bickering like idiots and support regional communities. Please stop the climate wars so we can reduce emissions and prevent further death and destruction.