There should be no surprise that the Nationals’ climate change denial-infected policy preferences have led to a rupture of the Coalition.

They would have been an unwearable millstone around the Liberals’ neck – none more so that their obdurate embrace of nuclear power, ironically a policy so transparently invented to keep the Coalition together. It was a policy which the Teals took such great delight in tying the Liberals to, given its rejection — or wilful ignoring of — scientific facts and rigorous analysis. Which is to say, its modelling was based on palpably absurd assumptions leading to demonstrably false claims that it would reduce the price of power or effect a timely lowering of emissions.

Post-election, the Coalition’s defeat means the nuclear power option is even more effectively time-framed out of contention. While that may suit the Liberals, by discarding it they are left with the differentiating option of backing the extended use of coal and gas – but which, ultimately, will not deliver 2050 carbon neutrality.

The nuclear option was by no means the only problem facing the Liberals in coalition. Their lack of electoral support from women is linked to their climate change policies. Recent surveys show Australia women are markedly more favourable to action on climate change: only 29% believe the seriousness of climate change is exaggerated while 42% of men do. Fewer women support repealing carbon laws (26% vs 42% of men) and are less likely to think carbon pricing hurts the economy.

For the Nationals, farmers — a natural choice for their power base — are arguably the economy’s most affected by climate change and will be more so in the future. But their interests have been discarded by the Nationals and largely supplanted by the mining industry. The Nationals are,........

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