Nationals party votes to remove all subsidies for renewable energy

The Nationals have voted to remove all subsidies for renewable energy providers over a five-year period and to freeze them at their current level for the next year.

Barnaby Joyce: "We have no problem in coal fire power."

The vote at the party's federal conference in Canberra on Saturday marks the start of a new campaign among party members against renewables, as energy policy gets set to dominate Parliament again when it resumes this week.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are set to receive subsidies of up to $2.8 billion a year up to 2030, according to research by economic consultancy BAEeconomics commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia.

The Australian Energy Market Operator is forecasting a crippling 1000 megawatt energy shortfall in 2022, as Australia's coal power plants begin to shut down, potentially leading to power shortages and rising prices for consumers.

Read Eryk Bagshaw’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Nationals party votes to remove all subsidies for renewable energy.”

(Madness is afoot in the National Party. Personal experience illustrates that the renewable energy industry is already alive with new jobs; jobs that will replace most of those that disappear as the fossil fuel industry dissolves because of scientific evidence and good sense - Robert McLean)

Nationals call on Federal Government to phase out renewable energy subsidies

The National Party has used its federal conference in Canberra to call on the Federal Government to eliminate subsidies for renewable energy.

The Windy Hill wind farm near Ravenshoe

The plan involves freezing subsidies at their current levels for 12 months, then phasing them out entirely over five years.

Former Nationals senator Ron Boswell spoke passionately in favour of the motion before it passed.

"Please don't reject this, because the message that it sends out is the National Party is pro-renewable energy, and it isn't," he told members.

But some Nationals spoke against the motion and argued that wind and solar farms had created jobs and boosted economies in regional areas.

Member for Mallee Andrew Broad cautioned his colleagues against appearing entirely opposed to renewables.

Read the ABC News story by regional affairs reporter, Lucy Barbour - “Nationals call on Federal Government to phase out renewable energy subsidies."