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Federal Members of Parliament are set to cast their votes today on whether to abandon the 2050 target for net-zero emissions during a party room meeting.
David Littleproud, the leader of the Nationals, expressed his confidence that the Coalition will conclude that achieving net-zero emissions is not the sole method for reducing carbon output.
“Pursuing net-zero is an expensive route, with an estimated cost of $9 trillion. This approach could jeopardize essential services like Medicare,” Littleproud explained in an interview with Today before the meeting took place.
He added, “There are other ways to contribute to the reduction of global emissions in a manner that is fair and equitable.”
Littleproud clarified, “We are not climate change deniers; we acknowledge its reality. There is a feasible path forward that Australians can afford right now.”
A motion at a grassroots meeting for the party to “abandon its support for a net zero mandate” was passed yesterday.
Littleproud said he hoped the Liberals “will come with us” on the decision to scrap the target.
“We want to be constructive, not destructive,” he added.
He couldn’t confirm if Joyce would be attending today.
“He’s still a member of the National Party. And if this is something that he’s obviously been very passionate about, but we’ve had a long-held process since the election that he agreed to and everyone agreed to,” he said.
“So the invitation is there, and if he turns up, he’s more than welcome. I’m sure he’ll make a very large contribution.”
The former deputy prime minister has snubbed the Nationals after saying he will not re-contest his seat at the 2028 election.
“I’m not going to attend any party room that believes in net zero,” Joyce told reporters in Canberra.
He suggested he may remain with the party if it dumps its net-zero target.
“I’ll see what they come up with,” Joyce said.