Name: Nationals abandon net zero mandate ahead of party room meeting
Uploaded: 2025-11-01T06:21:15.073Z
Duration: 1 min 42 s
Description: The National Party’s Federal Council has voted to scrap net zero, the climate policy that has divided the Coalition since its election loss. A party room meeting in Canberra will attempt to settle the issue.

The National Party’s Federal Council has voted to scrap net zero, the climate policy that has divided the Coalition since its election loss. A party room meeting in Canberra will attempt to settle the issue.

Canberra

The National Party's Federal Council has passed a motion to abandon its support for the Net Zero climate policy, a move that has further divided Australia's Coalition parties since their last election loss. This development presents new challenges for Opposition Leader Susan Lee, who is working to maintain unity between the Liberals and Nationals on climate issues.

The decision follows recent announcements from key figures such as Barnaby Joyce, who will not recontest his seat, and Andrew Hastie, who has moved to the backbench over the same issue. The Nationals argue there are alternative ways to reduce emissions besides Net Zero, while the party is set to finalise its position in an upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, the Liberals continue to review their own energy policy, with outcomes expected in the coming months.

Nationals abandon net zero mandate ahead of party room meeting

The National Party's Federal Council has moved in favour of dumping Net Zero, the climate change policy that's divided the Coalition since its historic election loss. Federal Politics reporter Matthew Kastunin joins us live from Canberra. Matt, what does this mean for Opposition Leader Susan Lee? Good evening, Chris. It's yet another headache for Susan Lee, who's trying to keep the Coalition not only relevant as an opposition, but keep the Liberals and Nationals together on an issue that's really wedged party members. The Nationals held their Federal Council meeting today here in Canberra, where they passed a motion to abandon its support for a Net Zero mandate. The issue has already seen Barnaby Joyce announce a few weeks ago he won't be recontesting his New England seat at the next Federal election. He also skipped the party room meeting here earlier this week. Within the Liberals, we saw Andrew Hastie head to the backbench on the same issue. The Nationals say there are alternatives in driving down carbon emissions that are not Net Zero. Net Zero is not the only way to continue to achieve emissions reductions. I believe in reducing emissions. I believe that man has had a contribution to climate change in this country. That should be the first premise of which we all work towards. They don't believe in climate change. They don't accept the science of what is necessary. And showing Australians, after the very heavy memo that the Australian people sent them in May this year, that they just don't get it. Tomorrow this issue will come to a head when the Nationals party room meetings held here at Parliament House to finalise their position on Net Zero. It follows yesterday's meeting of Liberal MPs who were hashing out the same issue. The findings of a review into the Libs own energy policy is still months away, but today's developments could change that, and fast.

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