Pauline Hanson has delivered a tough lesson to ‘s youngest senator, 21, who suggested the One Nation leader is stupid for trying to scrap the nation’s net zero target.
Hanson, 71, introduced a motion on Monday to scrap ‘s target of net zero carbon dioxide emissions, claiming the policy will ‘destroy jobs and the n economy.’
‘Power bills are out of control. Manufacturing is being wiped out. And ordinary ns are paying the price, while out-of-touch politicians and inner-city idealists push fantasy policies they’ll never have to live under,’ Hanson said.
‘We are being led by fools. Shame on every politician who continues to push this madness. I will not stand by while is driven into the ground.’
But before the vote, new Labor senator for South Charlotte Walker, 21, slammed Hanson as lacking knowledge of the subject.
‘All I can say is, are you kidding?’ she said.
‘The motion put forward on net zero indicates a severe lack of knowledge and a complete disregard for the future of our generation, the future of our country.
‘Without a net zero target, there will be no n farmers, businesses or industries to support us.
‘Net zero is waking up to a reality that Senator Hanson has not been able to grasp. In fact, Senator Hanson seems to be hellbent on exacerbating all of the consequences of climate change.’
After Walker’s remarks, Hanson hit back and accused her of being a hypocrite.
‘Charlotte said she grew up on the farm – a farm that uses diesel and petroleum products to actually do the work. I don’t think she really understands about what net zero is.
‘She’s no sooner out of bloody university and out of her nappies that she’s telling me I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about when I’ve been on the floor of parliament for the last nine years.
‘I don’t take any notice of her who’s just trying to make her place in this parliament and congratulations, but don’t come in thinking that you’re going to tell me what I know or what I don’t know when I have been dealing with this for many years.’
The motion from Hanson ultimately failed with only the four One Nation senators, United Party senator Ralph Babet and Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic voting in its favour.
Senator Hanson had not expected the motion to succeed but intended for it to expose the Coalition members who refused to support it.
‘Labor, the Greens and the crossbench voted it down. And the Liberals? Cowards. They had the notice. They had the time. And they still ran for the exits. Not one of them had the guts to stand and be counted,’ Hanson said.
Meanwhile, former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on Monday launched a separate bid to repeal the net-zero emissions by 2050 target.
But his private member’s bill is also guaranteed to fail, because it lacks the support of the government which has a majority in the House of Representatives.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley maintains the Coalition will wait until after a review of its disastrous May election loss before making formal policy decisions.
Despite a growing number of Liberal politicians speaking out against renewable energy policies which have pushed electricity prices to crippling levels, Ley would not budge from her position of waiting for a review.
‘We’re going to bring all of those views together … to flesh out the different perspectives, the expert advice and, of course, focus on this government’s miserable failure when it comes to energy policy,’ she told Sky News.
Asked about the political impact of dumping the climate target, Ley said she would not foreshadow the review’s outcome.
Many Liberal moderates want the net-zero target retained so the party can win back the wealthy city electorates which have backed Teal candidates.
But Joyce said there was no reason why abandoning the targets should be off the table.
‘This is not about leadership. This is not about trying to create some sort of discordant note,’ he told reporters ahead of the bill’s introduction.
‘There’s not anything in this bill that the Coalition didn’t have the same position we voted for.’
Joyce has the backing of his former leadership rival Michael McCormack.
The two ex-deputy prime ministers are critical of Nationals leader David Littleproud’s handling of the aftermath of the election defeat.
The National Party briefly split with the Liberals over front-bench representation and policy divisions including energy but Littleproud was later placated and came back into the fold.