Nationals Leader Says Net Zero Decision Could Come Within Weeks as Party Awaits Economic Modeling
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Nationals leader David Littleproud said Tuesday his party could decide its position on net zero emissions targets within weeks, as both coalition parties conduct separate reviews ahead of expected government legislation when Parliament returns.
Speaking on Sky News, Littleproud said the Nationals are waiting for economic modeling before finalizing their climate policy position, which will then be provided to the Liberal Party as the coalition works toward a unified stance.
"The Nationals are working through our process. We're waiting on some modelling to come back and then we'll get to our position. We'll give that to the Liberal Party around what that might look like and then move on from there," Littleproud said.
The timeline could accelerate if the government introduces climate legislation immediately upon Parliament's return, with Littleproud indicating a decision could come "in a matter of weeks" if faced with immediate legislative proposals.
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"If there's legislation presented to us, it could be in a matter of weeks. But we have a more structured process that's looking for more economic data that's very acute in terms of its scope of trying to appreciate exactly what the cost is of this pathway to net zero," he said.
Littleproud pointed to the coalition's voting record as an indicator of likely opposition to ambitious emissions targets, noting both parties voted against legislating a net zero target by 2050 and the 2030 interim target during the previous parliamentary term.
"I think if you cast your mind back, as I recall, the coalition voted against legislating net zero target by 2050, and we voted against the 2030 target," Littleproud said. "In 2022, when the government brought forward their 2030 target, and when they brought that forward, they moved legislation to legislate a 2050 net zero target, the coalition voted against it. It's on Hansard."
The Nationals leader criticized Monday's government climate risk report, describing it as an attempt to "heighten emotions rather than responsibly understand the way of reducing emissions" ahead of expected 2035 emissions targets.
"I think the government is trying to heighten emotions rather than responsibly understand the way of reducing emissions. Net zero is not the only way to reduce emissions and to address climate change," Littleproud said.
He referenced Grattan Institute energy expert Tony Wood's assessment that data feeding into the climate report makes accuracy difficult, questioning the assumptions underlying the government's analysis.
"While these reports are instructive, I think you should look at the comments of people like Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute, who made it very clear that the data that feeds in this, it makes it inherently difficult for you to get accuracy in terms of what this report is trying to articulate," Littleproud said.
The Nationals leader accused the government of refusing to provide cost estimates for their renewable energy transition, contrasting this with the coalition's detailed $331 billion energy grid proposal from the last election.
"To this day, Labor still will not tell us exactly what their all-renewables approach will cost this economy. And I find that staggering," Littleproud said. "We went to the last election with a detailed plan and costings."
Littleproud called for "mature political leadership" on climate policy, rejecting what he described as a "puerile argument" that equates opposition to net zero with climate change denial.
"I believe there has been climate change and man's made an influence on it. But I think there are different ways and better ways than an arbitrary target that the world is not living up to," he said.
When pressed about whether the Nationals could support a net zero target with a different pathway, Littleproud suggested the concept had become counterproductive.
"I find it difficult to see. Net zero has become more about trying to achieve the impossible rather than doing what's sensible," he said, while declining to preempt his party room's final decision.
The Nationals leader emphasized Australia's minor contribution to global emissions at "only a bit over 1% of total emissions" and criticized the government's renewable energy approach as "destroying regional Australia."
"We don't need to go down an all renewables approach that is destroying the actual environment, but is destroying regional Australia," Littleproud said.
He defended the coalition's 2022 election performance, arguing losses weren't attributable to energy policy but rather campaign execution and voter distrust of then-opposition leader Peter Dutton.
"I don't think that we lost it on nuclear energy. We lost it on work from home. We lost it on some pretty ordinary campaigning, to be candid," Littleproud said. "I don't think the Australian people rushed to Anthony Albanese. They held their nose and voted for Anthony Albanese just because they didn't trust Peter Dutton at the time."
The Nationals leader noted his party maintained all seats in the election while coalition partner Liberal Party lost multiple constituencies.
Littleproud called on journalists to press the government for comprehensive cost details of their renewable energy transition, including transmission infrastructure and capacity investment schemes.
"I think the fourth estate needs to step up here. And they need to ask the government quite clearly, what is the total cost of their integrated system plan?" he said.
The internal coalition climate policy review comes as Andrew Hastie threatens to quit the Liberal shadow cabinet over net zero commitments, potentially creating broader conservative resistance within opposition ranks ahead of the government's expected 2035 emissions target announcement.
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