Overview

• Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack have joined forces to back a private member’s bill aimed at scrapping the legislated 2050 net zero emissions goal, challenging their successor’s authority.
• David Littleproud has commissioned a review led by pro-fossil fuel senator Matt Canavan to assess the economic and community impacts of the net zero commitment.
• Opposition leader Sussan Ley reiterated that the Coalition’s net zero target remains official policy while the Liberals conduct a separate energy and climate review.
• Nationals senator Ross Cadell criticised Joyce and McCormack for bypassing party-room discussion, saying backbenchers were not consulted before their public revolt.
• The dispute exposes deep rifts over climate strategy and leadership control within the Nationals as concerns grow over power costs and grid reliability in regional Australia.