Climate Policy Fight Means Shock Defeat For Morrison; Nationals Elect Coal-Friendly Deputy Speaker

A shock defeat for the Morrison government has heightened tensions over climate change after angry Nationals defied their leaders to back a Queensland rebel for a key position in Parliament, signalling another spill against Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. In a proxy war over the government's direction, Nationals loyal to former party leader Barnaby Joyce gained victory over Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mr McCormack to elevate one of their group to become Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The election of Queenslander Llew O'Brien to the key post set government MPs against each other amid the backdrop of an internal debate between Liberals who want action on climate change and Nationals who want stronger measures to support coal-fired power stations.

The outcome was a sign of the resistance to deeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed a government plan to set a 2050 strategy this year to go beyond its existing reduction targets.

With Liberals and Nationals trading barbs, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull dismissed a call from Nationals MP George Christensen for taxpayer support for the proposed Collinsville coal-fired power station in Queensland. "Those people who are advocating that the government should fund coal-fired power are basically making the case for higher emissions and higher energy prices. And that is nuts," Mr Turnbull said.

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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/llew-o-brien-made-deputy-speaker-after-quitting-nationals-party-room-20200210-p53zgz.html