Essay by Eric Worrall
As Australia heads for tight federal elections on May 21, rural grassroots ruling coalition partners, the Nationals, appear to be leaving net zero commitment in 2050.
Coalition climate divide emerges as National Senator says no-grid goal is ‘dead’
By Jorge Branco
7:04 am April 27, 2022The coalition appears to be divided on climate change, with National Senator Matt Canavan describing the 2050 no-grid goals as “all dead goals” just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison forced must defend the government’s “absolute” commitment to it.
Labor took notice of the former minister and the fossil fuel champion’s outspoken comments on Tuesday were a “major development”, coming a day after Queensland National candidate Colin Boyce describes the goal as a “flexible plan” that “leaves us space”.
Both Mr. Boyce and Senator Canavan point to the world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and especially the dramatic effects on oil and gas supplies to Europe, as evidence shows. lack of commitment to goals.
“Anything that isn’t real is dead anyway,” he told ABC’s Afternoon Report on Tuesday.
“I mean, (UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson said he was pausing the zero pledge, Germany building coal and gas infrastructure, Italy reopening coal-fired power plants, all finished.
“I mean, the screaming is over here.”
…
Senator Canavan was right to describe Net Zero as dead in Europe, at least until the Ukraine crisis was resolved.
But Australia has largely been protected from the energy crisis in Europe, and the gasoline price crisis and inflation in the US – our white hot commodity boom has kept our currency in check. strong enough that Australian voters do not feel the price of gas and electricity is affected. to the same extent as other countries. So Australian voters have not caught up with the new reality in Europe and the United States.
The ruling federal incumbents, Australian Coalitionincluded Liberal Party and Country party. To add to the fun, in Queensland, Liberals and Nationals have merged into one party, the LNP. Senator Canavan is an LNP, but he sits with the federal National Party as a senator.
Despite the name, the Liberal Party in Australia claims to be a centre-right party – “Liberal” has a slightly different meaning in Australia.
Supporters of the National Party are predominantly Christian conservative rural voters who care deeply about mining jobs, coal jobs and fuel prices. The Liberal Party’s support base is more urban.
Like tree lovers in the US, green voters in Australia tend to be concentrated in big cities, as far away from physical contact with nature as possible. Support for the governing coalition has stagnated in recent years, so senior Liberals, such as the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenbergattracted inner-city green voters in a desperate attempt to cling to their congressional seats.
Until recently, the people of the Nation were quite skeptical about the climate, but under pressure from Liberals who fear losing their seats in the city, The people of the country support and declare their support for Net Zero last year.
But this does not sit well with rural voters of the National Party, who are deeply concerned about rising energy costs and mining jobs. Opinion poll shows many voters may be on the verge of defecting to small parties with a strong climate skepticism agenda, such as One Country. On the other hand, the Green Party may be on track to make strong profits in inner-city power districts.
If the Alliance sticks to their principles and makes a solid case for fossil fuels, energy exports and affordable energy, they will have a renewable opportunity. climate skeptic Prime Minister Tony Abbott wins election in 2013. The Liberals may have lost some of their more useless inner-city politicians, but voters generally like proof that their politicians have principles, even if they don’t. Totally agree with them.
Instead, the coalition has tried to please everyone, backing climate policy to follow the latest opinion polls, and is currently divided by opposing demands from different support groups.
The only reason the Alliance had any chance was Opposition Labor leader made a terrible mistake in an interviewand inadvertently revealed that he had a weak understanding of economics – a big deal for a voter worried about a possible recession.
So who can predict who will run Australia, after the May 21 election.
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