Nationals Get Extra Cabinet Seat As Oz' Meaningless Climate Pledge-Barge Slouches Towards Glasgow

[hatrack]

Last edited Mon Oct 25, 2021, 01:06 PM - Edit history (1)

The federal Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, has said he supports the “process” that led the party to back a net zero emissions target even as he came under fire for opposing the climate policy backed by a majority in the party room. Joyce on Monday insisted his opposition to the target was irrelevant given the final decision reflected the will of the party room. The Nationals secured an extra cabinet position as part of the Coalition deal, with the resources minister, Keith Pitt – who also opposed the mid-century target – reelevated.

Scott Morrison’s cabinet was expected to sign off on the agreement between the Liberals and Nationals on Monday night. Labor, meanwhile, homed in on divisions within the Nationals and called on the government to legislate the 2050 commitment and upgrade its medium-term emissions target. The Nationals have refused to countenance any change to the 2030 target, with Morrison instead expected to release an updated forecast for the end of this decade before he leaves for the Glasgow summit on Thursday.

In parliament on Monday, Joyce all but confirmed he had opposed the proposal for setting the net zero target but maintained he would “100% support our process of going to Glasgow” and the government’s position.

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Labor’s shadow minister for climate change, Chris Bowen, said Pitt’s elevation as part of a deal “tells the lie” of the fragile climate pact struck between the two parties. “It’s not about jobs in the regions – it’s about one job for one member of the National party. It’s all about them, not about the people they are meant to represent.” Bowen accused the government of being a “rolling rumble of chaos and secrecy”, highlighting the internal opposition to the net zero goal as evidence the government was not committed to addressing the climate emergency.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/25/labor-accuses-nationals-of-trading-opposition-to-net-zero-for-extra-cabinet-position

[OnDoutside]

1. Where's Glascow ?