Nationals Scrap Net Zero Target

The National Party has officially abandoned its commitment to net zero emissions, following a unanimous party room decision on Sunday. The move places pressure on the Liberal Party, as the Coalition continues to debate its future energy policy direction.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the party would now focus on “aspirations rather than targets,” aligning Australia’s emissions reduction efforts with those of comparable OECD nations. He said he was “proud” of the decision, claiming that “regional Australia is being torn apart by the government’s energy policy” and that there was “a better, cheaper, fairer way” to reduce emissions.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Dr Anne Webster, said Labor’s net zero plan was costing Australians through “higher power bills, lost jobs, and damage to our farmland and environment.” She said electricity prices were up 39 per cent and gas 46 per cent under Labor, adding that “the Nationals’ plan puts Australians first, with cheaper electricity and secure jobs, while still lowering emissions.”

Under its new “Cheaper, Better, Fairer” energy and climate plan, the Nationals will cap emissions reductions in line with global peers, support all technologies including nuclear, and prioritise lower energy prices. Dr Webster said this was “a fair approach,” arguing that continuing Labor’s path could cost “$7 to $9 trillion, or $250,000 per Australian.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young condemned the move, calling it “a disaster that will put Australian lives at risk.”

“This abandoning of net zero abandons taxpayers, it abandons future generations, and it abandons Australia’s role as a serious player in our region,” she said.