Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
With Scott Morrison overseas, Nationals leader Michael McCormack has been Acting Prime Minister this week. In this podcast, he speaks about the free trade agreement with the UK, climate change, coal, the Nationals, and China.
With speculation about whether Morrison will embrace a 2050 net zero target before the Glasgow climate conference, the attitude of the Nationals is critical and McCormack is under pressure from a vocal group in his party that is strongly against the target.
McCormack says the National party will not supporting signing up to the target this year.
When it is put to him, “we can be sure that the Nats would not embrace that target?” his reply is definite. “Correct”.
On coal, unlike many in the government, McCormack believes the controversial proposal for a coal-fired power station at Collinsville in Queensland can be a goer. A feasibility study is being conducted for the project. (It is understood a draft report has been produced already.)
McCormack says the study is “very much on its way”. Shire Energy CEO Ashley Dodd “texts me every day of every week and highlights the progress. And last week there were some really, really positive news.”
Asked whether he thinks the government will be able to support the project, McCormack says, “provided every box [including environmental ones] is ticked, yes”.
“If the proponents come forward with everything that they’re required to do, then I can see no reason why it wouldn’t be supported. And of course, it’s not just the federal government. It’s other entities, too, which need to come on board.”
Mustering the government’s rural rump into the 2050 tent
Grattan Institute’s Tony Wood on managing the shift in climate policy
Word from The Hill: A prime minister, a prince and the ‘last chance saloon’.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Former judge Stephen Charles slams government’s integrity commission model
The push to run independents on issues of climate and integrity
Coalition free-for-all over 2050 target
British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell on AUKUS and climate change
Word from The Hill: The Furious French and Porter‘s fall
Word from The Hill: Christian Porter’s anonymous money pot
Kate Jenkins on the women‘s agenda
Word from the Hill: A Father‘s Day backlash hits Scott Morrison
Word from The Hill: Learning to live with COVID
Pat Turner on COVID – and god botherers – stalking Indigenous communities
Doherty’s Sharon Lewin on pivoting from chasing COVID zero
Word from the Hill: The battle to exit COVID
Word from The Hill: Was the Afghanistan War worth it?
Anthony Albanese says Afghans in Australia should be given permanent residency
Josh Frydenberg on uncertain economic times
Word from the Hill: A reprimand for Christensen and Morrison on climate
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers on promoting vaccine uptake and a 'modest spending program'
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