A recent article in The Australian cited the Page Research Centre’s report as the basis for the Nationals’ decision to abandon net zero by 2050.
“The National Party has unanimously agreed to abandon Australia’s emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050, piling pressure on Sussan Ley as she tries to build unity in the Coalition.
Nationals leader David Littleproud confirmed the broadly expected outcome after emerging from a three-hour party room meeting on Sunday…
The decision was informed by a commissioned report from the Page Research Centre, a think-tank which “seeks to inform and influence policy that delivers positive outcomes for rural and regional Australia”.
The report found that Australia had far outperformed peer economies in reducing emissions, but that average household power bills had surged by up to $806 and heavy industry was shedding thousands of jobs – the bulk of which were in Nationals-held electorates.
It also warned that undermining Australia’s industrial capabilities was a national security risk “as regional tensions escalate”.
Instead, the Page Research Centre recommended short-to-medium range targets rather than a single, long-term target and tying them to other advanced economies.
