Carol Sparks, the former Glen Innes Severn Council mayor who attracted national attention during the black summer bushfires, will challenge Barnaby Joyce at the federal election with a clarion call on climate change action.
The Nationals are dragging out internal government negotiations that will let Australia sign up to a net zero by 2050 commitment, with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce refusing to reveal what terms will win their support.
The former president of the National Farmers' Federation, Brent Finlay, has accused politicians of "jumping in front of the cameras" while shirking effective policy work on drought and climate change.
