NATIONALS Senator Matt Canavan recently announced that the Coalition’s commitment to Net Zero was “dead”.

Independent candidate for Cowper Caz Heise has seized on the comment, calling for Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan, to reiterate his stance on the issue.

Ms Heise said the Coalition’s open warfare over Net Zero raised serious questions about the Government’s integrity and that the unravelling of the agreement between the Liberals and the Nationals had serious repercussions for regional Australia.

“In exchange for agreeing to Net Zero the Nationals secured a $20-billion regional infrastructure slush fund,” she said.

“What happens to that money now?

“We are seeing people’s lives being thrown into disarray, local government infrastructure repair bills skyrocket and cost of living expenses surging due to unchecked climate change, and yet the Nationals seem hell bent on protecting their coal donors.”

Ms Heise suggested that Mr Conaghan inflated the Government’s record on emissions and that she was alarmed by his endorsement of nuclear energy in a recent social media post.

Mr Conaghan responded, saying, “Matt Canavan does not speak for me or for the party as a whole.

“One person’s opinion does not change the commitment that has already been made and has already been budgeted for, and any inference that it does is rubbish.”

Ms Heise has also expressed dismay over Mr Conaghan’s direction of preferences.

She said Mr Conaghan’s decision to preference Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party was an insult to everyday people in Cowper.

“During the pandemic, both Ms Hanson and Mr Palmer deliberately spread lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 virus, and management and treatment options.

“Their words and actions endangered Cowper’s health workforce, seniors and vulnerable people and yet Mr Conaghan now thinks that is OK.”

Mr Conaghan said, “The preferences listed on my how to vote card are indicative of my desire to ensure that we do not have a disunified rabble in parliament.

“They reflect my belief that a hung parliament does no one good, least of all the people of Cowper who deserve stability and security after all that we have endured as a community,” he said.

“Any vote for so-called ‘independents’ and minor parties risks Labor and uncertainty,” Mr Conaghan said.

“I am passionate about stability and continuing in the path of a strong economy and my preferences reflect that.

“Any insinuation that these preferences support agendas from the United Australia Party or One Nation, or somehow mean that I don’t support the Coalition’s commitment to Net Zero, is complete nonsense.”

 

By Andrew VIVIAN