Nationals adopt new policies but not ETS

The Nationals have adopted several policy changes including some green initiatives
in a bid to renew the party's appeal to regional Australians, but remain resolutely
opposed to the government's emissions trading scheme (ETS).
In the first major policy overhaul since the 2004 council, the party has resolved to
condemn the government's recent changes to the youth allowance eligibility and has
agreed that compulsory student services fees should be adopted for sport and
healthcare facilities at universities.
But the major motion to receive unanimous party support was the rejection of Labor's
emissions trading legislation, listed as the first item on the council's agenda.
The Senate has already rejected the government's ETS once and a second vote is
expected in November.
Prior to the council vote, Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said it was a most
"dangerous scheme for regional Australia".
"The emissions trading scheme will do nothing to affect the climate of the globe,"
he told council delegates.
Senator Joyce said it would be an "insidious tax" that would "completely undermine
the structure for which this country is built on".
After the vote passed, Nationals Leader Warren Truss said the formal rejection of
Labor's ETS sent a clear message to the government and the people in regional areas
that the Nationals would stand up for them.
"We will not support a scheme like this which destroys Australian jobs but doesn't
deliver any benefits for the environment."
Asked if he was prepared for a coalition split at the next vote, Mr Truss said the
Liberal and National parties had so far voted against each of the government's 11
bills that make up the ETS.
But the Nationals would look at amendments, he said.
"If there are improvements, we'll obviously support them, but in the end we won't be
supporting any scheme that looks like the one that's before the parliament now."
Pushed further on the prospect of a split at the vote, Mr Truss said it was a matter
for the Liberals as to whether they wanted to change their position on the ETS.
"The Nationals won't be changing ours," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters in Melbourne the Nationals
council vote showed the scepticism which had taken over the coalition.
The public wanted action on climate change, she said.
"The Liberal Party are too interested in fighting with each other and fighting with
the National Party, rather than taking a decision in the national interest," Ms
Gillard said.
Not all of the Nationals federal council's motions received unanimous support.
There was some minor disagreement between members over the student services fee and
adopting a policy to support a gross feed-in tariff for small scale renewable energy
systems across the nation, something the Greens have been championing in the Senate.
However, despite some discord, both policies were carried.
The federal council continues on Sunday when members will vote on two motions that
were deferred due to disagreement on their wording.
Those motions cover protecting prime agricultural land from future mining and
forestry developments, and calls for the federal government to conduct a social
impact study on its water buyback scheme.
Another motion the party is yet to vote on but has also drawn concern from the
regions is the Beale Report's recommendation to the government to allow the
importation of foot and mouth disease virus samples into the country for research
purposes.
This year's federal council not only falls before an election year, but is also one
year ahead of the Nationals' 90th birthday celebrations in 2010.