National Party Takes A PUNT On Scrapping Net Zero, SportsBet Now Paying $1.02 For A Coalition Loss In 2028

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

WILL IT PAY OFF? It seems that Barnaby Joyce's WAGER has paid off, as his estranged colleauges in the The National Party takes a PUNT on formally abandoning their commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

This announcement follows in a unanimous party room decision which shocked the online sportsbetting markets for a number of reasons.

One, because the gambling giants had assumed the National Party has matured beyond this Abbott-era culture war against climate scientists by stooping to such low effort politics.

It's also shocked the betting markets because the online sportsbetting conglomerates are now terrified that their decade of political lobbying and generous donations towards the conservatvies will now be for nothing.

Because as the junior partners in the Federal Coalition, the rural-focused National Party has just annihilated any chance that their city colleagues in the Liberal Party ever had of winning back the blue-ribbon seats that had been snatched from them in the 2022 and 2025 elections by climate-focused Independent candidates who loathe Barnaby Joyce.

It seems the likes of SportsBet and Bet365 have BACKED THE WRONG HORSE and should have just redirected all of their time and money into shmoozing the equally agreeable Labor Party, who don't appear to be going anywhere for the next two to three terms.

The Nationals had previously had a BET EACH WAY when it came to net-zero emissions by 2050, and had only ever conditionally agreed with Scott Morrison's desperate requests because they were terrified of him being replaced as Coalition leader by a Liberal moderate like Josh Frydenberg who had a concerning level of respect for the findings of 99.9% of the world's scientists.

But with the next generation of Liberal talent hollowed out by two bloodbath elections, the Liberals were in no position to dictate climate policy to the Nationals, who are now free to do and say whatever Gina Rhinehart asks them to, regardless of whether it wins them an election or not.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the party would shift its focus to climate adaptation instead of being "focused solely" on reducing emissions.

*The constant references to sportsbetting and gambling vernacular has nothing to do with the ongoing negotiations around the possible acquisition of the Betoota Advocate by Sportsbet.