Net zero target policies further divide federal Coalition

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The deepening divide within the federal Coalition over net zero is now exposing fault lines in state parliament too. New South Wales Nationals MPs have given 'in principle' support to the federal party's policy - which scraps the target for net zero emissions by 2050. That could put them at loggerheads with the state Liberals - who've warned that backing away from the target could cost them votes.

Transcript

00:01The push to transform Australia's energy mix is having a transformational effect on coalition policy.

00:08We've committed by 2050 to be zero emissions which are consistent with the Paris Agreement.

00:13We do think that there is change that's needed as far as where our energy plan is headed.

00:18The New South Wales Nationals are giving in principle support to their Federal colleagues plan

00:22which backs nuclear energy and explicitly abandoned support for net zero.

00:27But talk of that target is something their leader wants to avoid.

00:30Everyone keeps talking about two words that no one understands what they actually mean.

00:35Two words that you don't want to say though.

00:37And I'm not going to say them. There you go. Because they mean nothing.

00:41In trying to give the coalition space to discuss their differences opponents are filling the void.

00:46They're abandoning net zero. What an absolute fool.

00:51Honestly no one knows week by week what they believe in.

00:54The renewable energy industry says even talk of scrapping targets could affect investment.

00:59Coal fired power stations are coming offline because they're old and ready for retirement.

01:03That electricity needs to be replaced with something.

01:06And solar, wind, batteries and a little bit of gas is by far and away the cheapest option available to us.

01:13But the Nationals say the pace and planning of green energy projects has been botched under Labor.

01:18The communities are literally being torn apart.

01:21We're not a group of hillbillies that's saying we don't believe that we need to do work.

01:26We believe in climate change.

01:27Even still the Nationals position could put Mark Speakman and the Liberals in a tight spot.

01:32He says he won't back away from the net zero target and he's warned that voters could turn on his party if he does.

01:38And having already lost ground to one climate focused teal, a backtrack on net zero could put even more state liberal territory at risk.

01:50phrases to each state level which will put a disadvantages with carbon �zen.

01:52To be catching up and above all housing available to us.

01:54The Nationals respect can be powerful, a

02:07chapter of twoять pools in the true adder, a hypothetical speed.

02:10To be able to regional power to purchase a similar position to Lytown revise here in the смысled energy industry.

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