Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the federal government is heading toward carving the agriculture sector out of their emissions reduction plan – which Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack flagged on Sunday. “Angus Taylor … has funded a study to assist with carbon measurements of soil and the federal government has big hopes in this,” Mr Clennell said.
“We already see farmers paid for planting trees so this is the logical next extension”.
He revealed he had been informed, “essentially this is outside agriculture being excluded”.
“There wouldn’t be the prospect agriculture could be excluded and this could offset, the farmers would be able to make the money and agriculture still excluded.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack will have to navigate a slippery path when the Nationals begin discussing Scott Morrison's evident desire to embrace a 2050 net-zero emissions target.
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The Nationals will have a ‘huge battle’ which could lose McCormack his job: Credlin08/02/2021|7min
There will be a serious battle in the National Party which could cause leader Michael McCormack to lose his job, according to Sky News host Peta Credlin.
Several National Party Senators and MPs have come out criticising any future policy for a 2050 net zero emissions target by the Coalition government.
There are calls to adopt a New Zealand-style exemption of particular industries including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Ms Credlin said if Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is “just going to rollover” for the Liberal Party then he could lose his job.
The Australian’s Dennis Shanahan says the "whole issue" of net zero emissions by 2050 could very well prove to be the topic that triggers the "real pressure" on Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and the tensions within the Coalition.
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack recently said if the federal government was going to commit to a net-zero emissions by 2050 goal, the agriculture sector should not be included.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan subsequently came out to say the "mythical" net zero emissions target by 2050 is something Australia shouldn't sign up to as it will cost thousands of jobs.
"I don't think we should sign ourselves up to such a mythical target," Mr Canavan told Sky News in a recent interview.
"I think that the pressure will be on and that Scott Morrison is going to have to manage this," Mr Shanahan told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
"But the real risk is for Michael
Michael McCormack says the Government might consider excluding agriculture from future long-term climate change targets, but his immediate focus was on other issues.