General News
3 November, 2025
'Cheaper electricity' behind Senator's vote for net zero shift
The high price of power has convinced Nationals like Susan McDonald to abandon the party's net zero plans.
Queensland Senator Susan McDonald has thrown her full support behind the Nationals’ decision to abandon the Coalition’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, describing Labor’s climate policies as a failure that has punished regional Australia.
The Nationals’ Federal Council voted on Saturday to formally withdraw support for the 2050 target, a move that was unanimously backed by the party’s parliamentary team and has reignited division within the Coalition over climate policy.
Senator McDonald, originally from Cloncurry, said her position reflected the growing frustration of people and businesses across North Queensland who were struggling with the rising cost of power and the impact of climate regulations on industry.
The Nationals said its proposed model would set an "aspiration" to reduce emissions by 30 to 40 per cent by 2035, far below the federal government's commitment to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent.
“After four years of Labor’s experiment, the results are in: exorbitant power bills, lost manufacturing jobs, and struggling farming communities,” Senator McDonald said.
“It’s clear that Australia can’t afford Labor’s net zero plan. We need a better way that actually reduces emissions while keeping the lights on and protecting livelihoods.”
Senator McDonald said the Nationals’ alternative plan would focus on practical, community-driven measures rather than what she called “expensive taxes and bureaucracy”.
“We will restore the Soils Ambassador program to recognise the enormous role our farmers play in carbon capture, and we’ll properly fund practical action such as tackling weeds and feral pests,” she said.
“We’ll invest in local resilience infrastructure such as groynes, levees and sea walls to protect regional towns and coastal communities from erosion and flooding, rather than just taxing people and pretending that’s climate action.”
The new policy direction includes renewing the Emissions Reduction Fund, broadening the Capacity Investment Scheme to include all energy technologies, and lifting the moratorium on nuclear power.
“Our approach will increase investment in cheaper electricity by broadening the Capacity Investment Scheme to include all energy technologies and remove the moratorium on nuclear energy,” Senator McDonald said.
“Labor’s net zero has failed. We have a plan that is cheaper, better and fairer.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the decision reflected the reality that regional Australians were paying the price for policies that were not delivering results.
“After 30 years of climate policy, the only thing that’s gone down is the reliability of the energy grid,” he said.
“We’re not going to sit back and let regional Australia continue to carry the can for policies written in Canberra or in the cafes of inner-city suburbs.”
While critics have warned the move could damage Australia’s international credibility and investment confidence, the Nationals insist it’s about standing up for the regions that keep the country running – and ensuring energy policy reflects the needs of the people who produce Australia’s wealth.
Mr Littleproud said the party remained committed to lowering emissions but wanted to do so in a way that protected jobs, families, and the regions.
“This is about using practical environmentalism – not ideology – to get results for our people,” he said.
Labor's Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the Nationals had "betrayed" regional Australia.
"We know regional Australia has the most to lose from the impacts of climate change … and regional Australia has the most to gain from taking action," he said.
"Renewables are not only keeping the lights on as aging coal plants retire, but they're creating jobs and new revenue right across regional Australian communities.
"Farmers are earning a significant income stream from hosting renewable energy projects alongside existing farming activities."
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, a long-time critic of net zero targets, said the Nationals were leading an honest debate about the costs of the policy.
“The Nationals have finally called time on the fairy tale of net zero,” he said on Sunday.
“This policy has driven up electricity prices, sent jobs overseas and done nothing to reduce global emissions. It’s time we stood up for Australian workers and industries instead of chasing overseas applause.”
Senator McDonald echoed those concerns, saying the government’s approach was undermining prosperity in regional communities.
“Labor’s net zero plan might win applause in Paris, but it’s destroying prosperity in places like Townsville, Mackay and Mount Isa,” she said.
“The Nationals believe in practical environmentalism and solutions that work for our people, our economy, and our future.”
The Nationals’ break from the Coalition’s shared climate stance sets up a major policy fault line ahead of the next election, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley yet to clarify whether the Liberal Party will follow suit.