Morrison Meets With Liberal MPs Worried He Won't Pull Off Some Meaningless Symbolic Climate Bullshit
Scott Morrison has met with a number of Liberal MPs concerned the government could try to appease the National party by adopting a policy roadmap to achieve net zero emissions without formally signing on to the 2050 target. With some Nationals implacably opposed to the Coalition adopting the target ahead of the Cop26 in Glasgow, Liberals in marginal and metropolitan seats have become increasingly worried that the prime minister may not be able to land his long-telegraphed climate policy pivot.
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The Nationals met virtually on Monday amid rising tensions about the net zero commitment. Guardian Australia understands that net zero was discussed, but Monday’s meeting resolved to delay a substantive conversation until National MPs can meet in person, likely when parliament resumes in mid-October.
Nationals Matt Canavan and George Christensen have signalled publicly they are completely opposed to the target. The resources minister Keith Pitt has also flagged opposition, declaring resources industry jobs were more important than “demands from foreign countries or the United Nations”.
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Canavan has suggested he is prepared to defy his party room if a majority ultimately accepts a commitment to net zero. On Sunday he declared he had not even begun to fight. Christensen was not at Monday’s virtual meeting of Nationals MPs. The former leader of the Nationals, Michael McCormack, has argued the party needs to be pragmatic about net zero as long as the interest of regional Australians are protected in the transition. McCormack warned last week that a flat “no” to net zero could threaten Australia’s trade relationships and export income.
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/28/scott-morrison-meets-with-liberal-mps-worried-coalition-will-appease-nationals-on-net-zero
