Barnaby Joyce walked out of the Nationals party room on Monday, the latest sign of internal Coalition strife over climate policy. The former deputy prime minister, who helped negotiate the Morrison government’s 2021 net zero pledge, spent much of the morning giving media interviews and wandering the press gallery, refusing to participate in the party room discussions.
Nationals leader David Littleproud stressed the party could not simply reject net zero but must develop “a credible alternative”. He said the party had agreed on “a structured process we’re going to calmly walk ourselves through”, adding that he wanted the issue resolved by Christmas. Littleproud’s remarks were seen as a rebuke to those seeking to “beat your chest and say no”.
Senator Matt Canavan presented initial findings of his net zero report to the party room, with former leader Michael McCormack calling it “credible”. Business groups, meanwhile, are urging an end to the climate wars, with Business Council chief Bran Black saying corporate Australia needed policy certainty to invest and grow.
During question time, Joyce briefly slipped out of the chamber, leaving his seat conspicuously empty. When asked about net zero, Liberal MP Tim Wilson deflected, saying: “My focus is on having net zero tolerance for corruption on Australian construction sites.”
