NSW Nationals vote to dump net zero by 2050, increasing pressure on Littleproud to follow suit
The New South Wales Nationals have voted to abandon Australia's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the party's weekend state conference in Coffs Harbour, increasing pressure on the federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, to follow suit.
Attendees at the conference said the motion, moved by the Tweed state electorate council, passed easily with 60 to 65% support, after vigorous debate for nearly an hour among the 300-odd delegates.
Young Nationals chair, Jayden Whaites, drew applause for his passionate speech in support of dropping the target.
Whaites told the conference there was no point in having a target without a clear pathway to achieve it. He said real farms were being replaced with solar farms and causing angst among farming communities.
The chairman of the NSW Nationals, Rick Colless, said others in favour of abandoning the target pointed out that Australia's major trading partners, notably the US, were walking away from net zero by 2050.
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He said those who were in favour of maintaining the target expressed concern about what it would mean for Australia's trade relations, as countries who do not commit to the Paris agreement and its targets could face tariffs in the future.
The NSW Nationals platform does not bind the state or federal parliamentary parties in the same way as Labor's platform does, but it is a strong signal to both state and federal leaders.
'The grassroots members get the opportunity to express their concerns. The resolutions then go to the state and federal party. It doesn't commit them to the position; its more a recommendation,' Colless said.
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Littleproud is already facing pressure from his fellow Queenslanders to formally drop the net zero target. Some Queensland MPs, including Matt Canavan and the federal Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, were at the NSW conference over the weekend.
After a brief split in the Coalition, the Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, has promised to discuss a new energy policy within the joint party room in Canberra. The Coalition's current policy backs a net zero target by 2050, something business groups have supported because it provides certainty.
The NSW Nationals also voted on a separate resolution calling on the party to 'embrace coal' as an energy source, keep exisiting coal-fired power stations open and to build new high-efficiency, low -missions coal power stations in the future.
Littleproud has been contacted for comment.
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