Barnaby Joyce Believes Australians at Odds With Parliament on Net Zero

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said if you get rid of net zero you are ’saying climate change is not real.’

Power-generating windmill turbines and electricity pylons are pictured during sunrise at a wind park in Avesnes-le-Sec, France, Sept. 8, 2023. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce believes there is a disconnect between how the public views net zero and how parliament views it.

He added that many members of the Liberal Party also do not fully support net zero, which is yet to be reflected in its official policy stance.

“Where the rank and file [Coalition members] is on this [net zero], I believe, is different to where Parliament House is on this. And where the street is on this, is different to where Parliament House is on this,” he said on Sky News Australia.

“Net zero, if you believe in net zero, it’s a situation which brings the demolition of our industrial base. We have a cost-of-living crisis, we are putting people into their cars, we have record insolvencies in small business, and this is on the merry path to net zero,” he said.

Joyce reflected on the rising cost of power in Australia since the net zero push began, which has been a contributing factor to the record level of insolvencies.

“But if I am running a business, and having to pay for the power bill, or if I have been put out of my house because I can’t afford the power, or we have transmission lines going all over your property and your house,  and surrounded by intermittent power precincts,” he said.

“And then having to think that a billionaire is lining their pocket with the returns from this, but you can’t see them because they are secret, is there any other solution but to get out of net zero?”

Albanese Accuses Joyce of Saying that Climate Change is ‘Not Real’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised Joyce for not believing in climate change.

“If you get rid of net zero, you are saying climate change is not real, and you do not need to do anything about it,” Albanese told reporters.

His comments came as debate on Joyce’s Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025 resumed in parliament on Aug. 25 (pdf).

“You have Barnaby Joyce, whose Private Members’ Bill will be debated in the Parliament this morning, openly saying that climate change is not real. That’s effectively what they are saying,” Albanese said.

Albanese said his government would act on net zero and also “recognise” that it’s not just about the environment.”

“There’s an economic opportunity to acting as well, growing new industries, growing new jobs and expanding our economy as well. There’s no country in the world you'd rather be than here,” Albanese said.

Labor member for Dickson, Ali France, pointed out Labor’s election win reflected the people’s support for its climate policy.

“By endorsing Labor’s plan in May, Aussies have made a very clear statement to the world that Australia is the place to do business if you’re looking to use clean energy to create prosperity. That is why this bill, the Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025, is so bizarre. It goes against the will of the people and it is anti-business,” he said.

Labor promised 82 percent renewables by 2030 and has legislated net zero by 2050. The Coalition is conducting a review of net zero following the party’s election loss in May.