Alan Veacock, Cumbalum
After some serious arm-twisting from the rest of the sane world, led by Joe Biden, the ‘marketing guy’ is being dragged kicking and screaming towards declaring a net-zero-emissions by 2050 target.
The Nationals, who have learnt absolutely nothing from election losses in Queensland and NSW are outraged and threatening to cross the floor in opposition, in support of their constituents, unless farmers are exempted from any emissions target. However, it’s a bit unclear which constituents they are supporting, the farmers or the fossil-fuel industry!
The usual suspects, Matt Canavan, Barnaby Joyce, Bridget McKenzie, David Littleproud, and Michael McCormack (he thinks he’s their leader), seem to have emerged from their coal mines and suddenly discovered that farmers have been on the front line in dealing with climate change for the last 20 years, and have been pleading for effective government action.
The problem for the Nationals, apart from their stupidity, is that the National Farmers Federation already supports net zero emissions by 2050. Australian grain growers are also calling for a grain-specific emissions reduction target for 2030. Meat and Livestock Australia also has an ambitious 2030 goal for zero emissions. It seems the National Party needs to spend more time modernising their ideology and less time hiding down outdated coal mines.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
