Nationals Leader: Don't Worry, We'll Mine And Export Coal Well Into The 2040s And 2050s [View all]

[hatrack]

The National party has exited a marathon meeting where they discussed the Morrison government’s climate policy without coming to an agreement – with discussions to continue into the parliamentary sitting week.

The not-unexpected outcome came after more than four hours of talks on Sunday. The Liberal energy minister, Angus Taylor, spent the first three hours briefing the party room on a proposal to commit Australia to a net zero emissions target by 2050 and the roadmap to get there.

EDIT

Taylor released a statement following his presentation, calling the discussion “constructive and collegiate” while focussing on jobs. “There was a strong joint commitment to policies that strengthen our regions, not weaken them,” the minister said. “It was also clear that there was absolutely no appetite for policies that impact jobs or add to the cost of living through an explicit carbon tax or a sneaky carbon tax. Which we won’t be doing.”

Littleproud attempted to reassure a core LNP constituency they were not at risk. “If you’re a coalminer in central Queensland you shouldn’t be shuddering in your boots tonight, you’re still going to have a job, we’re going to see those jobs and coal exports go well into the 2040s, probably into the 2050s,” he said.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/17/a-long-way-to-play-out-nationals-fail-to-reach-agreement-on-2050-emissions-reduction