Federal election 2022: PM hoses down internal discord after mixed messages on Coalition’s net zero pledge

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attempted to hose down an internal Coalition war on climate change as renegade Nationals Senator Matt Canavan continues to claim the commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not set in stone.

After a day of media interviews where the former resources minister said net-zero by 2050 was “essentially dead”, contrary to other senior Morrison Government ministers, Mr Morrison played down Senator Canavan’s views.

“As many have said today, as the Treasurer has said today, that’s not his party’s position. That’s not the Coalition’s position and it’s not the Government’s position,” Mr Morrison said.

“Now, we’re a party and a coalition that brings people from all sorts of different perspectives. That’s his view. It’s no surprise — he’s held it for a long time. That debate has been done and it has resulted in our policy that was set out very clearly and and it has the strong support of the Government.”

Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said today Senator Canavan should pull his head in and stop creating a distraction for the Government.

Mr Morrison said one thing Senator Canavan was correct on was Labor’s “sneaky carbon tax”.

“He’s he’s actually told the truth. Labor does have a sneaky carbon tax on our traditional industries,” Mr Morrison said.

“And I can tell you, that’s not good for Rockhampton. That’s not good for North Queensland. It’s certainly not good for Western Australia.”

The climate debate was reignited again after the LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce said there was “wriggle room” on the Coalition’s climate commitments.

Mr Morrison signed Australia up to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow.

However, he won’t legislate the commitment in the Australian parliament.

The West Australian revealed Mr Morrison wasn’t certain he would attend the summit just several weeks out from it being held.

An internal battle between the Nationals and the Liberal Party ensued directly before the trip where Mr Morrison was able to get the Nationals to begrudgingly agree to the climate target.

Many farmers and agricultural industries which the Nationals represent were concerned how about such a commitment would impact their livelihoods.