Barnaby Joyce could lose his leadership over a net-zero commitment if he doesn't reflect the "moderate and sensible" views of the party room on climate change, according to a sacked former Nationals Minister.
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Now backbench, Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said there is "frustration" growing in the Nationals party room because the "more extreme views are being portrayed as speaking for the party room".
"If the leadership of our party wants to stay the leadership of our party they need to reflect what our party room wants. At this stage we're working our way through that as individuals and as a team," he said.
"Watch this space. Our new leaders, from his comments this week, probably understand that he needs to reflect the mood of our room. And ... some of the comments I've seen do probably reflect that."
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The party room has yet to sit down and have a debate on the issue, with a majority representing the "moderate and sensible" section, he said.
In February, before his elevation back to Deputy Prime Minister, Member for New England Barnaby Joyce condemned an emissions commitment without a strategy behind it as "like the person going door-to-door selling you Amway".
Mr Joyce even threatened to cross the floor over the issue, claiming that a commitment would cost "tens of thousands of dollars" in new "regulations" which would hit rural people hardest.
In recent weeks he confirmed that the party room would get ultimate sign-off on any agreement regarding a 2050 target and on Sunday said that any deal would have to not unfairly affect regional areas, and would have to outline the cost of the plan.
Mr Coulton told Australian Community Media that there is a deal to be made between the bush and the city on an Australian climate commitment that could be taken to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November.
The MP said his personal views have evolved on the issue since in 2008 helping lead the opposition to the ETS. The electorate's mind has changed too, he said - and technology has advanced.
"My views is that by the time we get to Glasgow we should be able to go and say our country has agreed we need to get to zero emissions by 2050. We are looking at different technologies and approaches to do that. We make that commitment but not a deadset commitment ... we need a caveat to say that it's our intention ... but not at all costs," he said, speaking as a person.
Most of constituents "want to make a deal, they want to do something but it needs to be where everyone pays a bit of a price, not just the people of regional areas".
Mr Coulton's comments follow an announcement by fellow moderate MP Darren Chester, who declared on the weekend that he was taking a break from the National party room, in part over the issue.
Mr Joyce's former chief of staff Queensland Senator Matt Canavan said on Twitter on the weekend that he is "dead set" against a net zero emissions goal, which he said was "unattainable".