Pauline Hanson's Stark Warning to Anthony Albanese

One Nation Leader Criticizes Net Zero Policy

Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has announced plans to introduce an urgency motion in the Senate that calls for the government to abandon its net zero emissions target. The motion is expected to be voted on Monday afternoon, intensifying pressure from within the Coalition to reconsider the policy.

In a letter to Senate President Sue Lines, Ms. Hanson stated her intention to bring forward the motion as a matter of urgency. She highlighted concerns about the impact of the policy on small businesses, citing a recent conversation with a business owner who pays $10,000 a month in electricity costs, in addition to rent. This has led to 30,000 small businesses closing their doors in just three years.

Ms. Hanson described net zero as a "scam" that is destroying industries, gutting manufacturing, and crippling farming and food production. She also claimed it is driving up the cost of living and pushing families into poverty, homelessness, and despair. She criticized politicians for continuing to support what she called "madness," vowing not to stand by while Australia is driven into the ground.

Although the motion is expected to be defeated, Ms. Hanson emphasized that the purpose was to force Coalition senators to take a public stance on the issue. "We know where Labor and the Greens stand, but I want to hear where those in the Coalition stand on this," she said. She added that anyone who abstains from voting would be considered a "coward."

Net zero has become a point of contention within the recently reconstituted Coalition. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has hinted at introducing a private members' bill to eliminate the policy. According to reports, Nationals leader Michael McCormack is expected to support Joyce's initiative, which undermines the Coalition's ongoing review of the net zero policy.

This development signals to more moderate members of the Coalition that the Nationals are not willing to let the issue fade away. Ms. Hanson welcomed the move by the two Nationals MPs, stating that her party had long believed net zero was a "bad idea." She noted that some National Party members have only recently recognized the negative impact of the policy on productivity, cost of living, and the agriculture sector.

"Barnaby Joyce to his credit seems to have turned the leaf and recognized that these issues are having an impact and he's attempting to reverse the damage he and his Coalition did in government," she said.

Instead of pursuing the net zero policy, Ms. Hanson urged the government to focus on providing Australian families, farmers, businesses, and industry with cheap and reliable energy. She argued that this approach would help protect jobs, ensure energy security, lower the cost of living, and restore Australia's economic competitiveness.

Ms. Hanson also pointed out that Australia's ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2050 is difficult to justify given its relatively minor contribution to global emissions. While China and India are exempt from cutting emissions until 2060 or 2070, and the U.S. refuses to participate, Australia is being made to suffer for contributing just one percent of global emissions.

According to the CSIRO, Australia contributes just over one percent of global emissions, while China, India, and the U.S. comprise a combined 52 percent. Among these four nations, Australia has the strictest net zero horizon.