Nationals urged to dump net zero, back nuclear power
Party loyalists are calling on the National Party to abandon its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and withdraw from the global climate agreement.
A federal council meeting will be held in Canberra on Saturday, where the rural party will outline its policy vision.
Among the proposals to be discussed are proposals to cancel the key climate target and withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
They are calling on the National Party to “abandon its support for a net zero mandate” while backing a policy framework that allows for emissions reductions.
This will be achieved by protecting key industries such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing through a “balanced” energy mix of coal, gas and renewable energy sources.
Giving the green light to the motion will see the National Party remain committed to nuclear energy and support the lifting of the nationwide nuclear energy ban introduced in 1998.
Adopting the policy would keep the National Party “against the current punitive industry and job-destroying taxes of the Albanian Workers’ Party government”.
Under the Paris Agreement signed in 2015, members must increase their emission targets every five years and cannot dilute these targets.
The proposal states that by withdrawing from the agreement, national control over emissions targets and energy policy will be restored by ensuring Australians have access to affordable and reliable energy.
The net zero target remains a key sticking point within the coalition as the Liberal Party embarks on an energy policy review following its disastrous election defeat in May.
But the party’s own resolve is in doubt following a meeting of Liberal supporters in Parliament House on Friday.
Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan said the Liberals were likely to finalize their position six to nine months after the federal election, meaning a decision was likely to come between November and January.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the coalition’s energy policy would not only prioritize the emissions target.
“As I have said from the beginning… we will not accept the government’s net zero at any cost,” he said on Friday.
Speaking from South Korea, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the government is continuing the transition to net zero without being affected by the coalition’s restrictions.
“I’ll let people watch the circus and make up their own minds,” he told reporters.
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