While the Liberal Party experienced a blood bath in Saturday's Federal election, Charlie Prell who is chair of Farmers for Climate Action believes the National Party faired betterl because of its more progressive attitudes on climate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Prell, of Crookwell, is a fourth-generation sheep farmer who also hosts wind turbines on his property.
"As a sheep farmer I think it is fantastic that at last climate has become the issue, not just in the city where the Independents had a field day but also in the suburbs and the bush," Mr Prell said.
"There are substantial swings in the bush towards, particularly Nationals members, who have been progressive on climate, looking for action to address the climate challenge."
Two issues, Mr Prell believes, influenced voters strongly at the polls on Saturday, climate and integrity in government.
"The fossil fuel companies have extraordinary access to our politicians and it is time our political system was cleaned up with an integrity commission," he said.
Mr Prell said Farmers for Climate Action want to see for interim emissions targets as we progress closer to 2050.
"We need a target for 2030, a target for 2035 and a target for 2040 so we're not just on an ethereal journey, (we) need a stepped plan to get us to net zero by 2050, but preferably earlier than that," Mr Prell said.
Farmers for Climate Action is a movement of farmers, agricultural leaders and rural Australians working to influence Australia to adopt strong climate policies.
The group represents 7,000 farmers across Australia with a supporter base of more than 35,000 Australians committed to climate action for agriculture.