Victorian Nationals battle identity crisis

Victoria Nationals are battling an identity crisis and threatening to disaffiliate from their federal colleagues if the party doesn’t adopt a stronger stance on climate change. The reappointment of Barnaby Joyce as deputy prime minister also sparked tensions within the party. Victoria Nationals Leader Peter Walsh said the stance the Queensland members took on climate change was not in keeping with the Victorian view. “I believe Victoria, the state, our communities, our industries, have a different view on climate change to what’s being espoused by our Queensland colleagues particularly,” he said. Mr Walsh said he wanted to see the federal Nationals listen to his party which is committed to moving towards net zero by 2050 and for Australia to adopt a stronger stance at the United Nations climate summit at the end of the year.