CHEAPER, BETTER, FAIRER ENERGY PLAN FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND
North Queensland-based Senator, Susan McDonald says “enough is enough” after listening to people and businesses struggling to afford power prices due to Labor’s aggressive net zero policies.
Senator McDonald is an LNP Senator for Queensland but sits in the National Party room when in Canberra.
She voted for the motion at Saturday’s Nationals Federal Council, and on Sunday the parliamentary team unanimously agreed to formally withdraw support for Labor’s net zero by 2050 target, declaring that Australia needs a cheaper, better and fairer way to reduce emissions without punishing regional industries and families.
“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’ new approach would back practical, community-driven environmental measures rather than 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.
“We will incentivise lower emissions through a renewed Emissions Reduction Fund. This will be a small fraction of the $9 billion now being spent each year on net-zero subsidies, regulations, and administrative costs.
“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.
“Labor’s net zero has failed. We have a plan that is cheaper, better and fairer.”
Senator McDonald said the Nationals would always put Australian jobs and regional industries ahead of global virtue signalling.
“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.”
ENDS