Barnaby Joyce snaps at reporter over climate change question

Barnaby Joyce has snapped at a reporter after being asked if he accepted Australia is at a greater risk of extreme weather events due to global warming.

A landmark UN climate change report last month warned temperatures are likely to rise by more than 1.5 degrees, bringing widespread extreme weather.

The deputy prime minister was addressing the National Press Club for the first time since his return to the Nationals’ leadership when he was asked if he accepted the science of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

But Mr Joyce, who was elevated back to the Nationals’ leadership partially due to his stance on climate change, seemingly likened the question to being forced to denounce satan at a baptism.

“I really don‘t like when questions are presented like that, because it sounds like you’re out of baptism, on behalf of your child, denouncing Satan,” the deputy prime minister said.

A back and forth between the reporter and Mr Joyce ensued, and ended when the deputy prime minister snapped and accused the journalist of being “part of the problem”.

“Your emissions went up. You are part of the problem, regional Australia was part of the solutions,” he said.

“With respect, Mr Joyce, you‘re the Government. This is an IPCC statement in the latest science. So I want to know whether the starting point is that factual summation of the science?” the reporter continued.

“I've told you I’m not going to stand here and sort of be berated into complying with the thing that sounds awfully like the statements that one gives in regards to a child of a baptism,” Mr Joyce sniped back.

“Do I agree humans have had an influence in the climate? Yes, but I’m not going to participate in some sort of kangaroo court of, ‘Now you will agree to every statement I say, because the IPCC said it.’”

At the time of its release, United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres declared the climate report card was a “code red for humanity” and urged nations to take greater action.

Mr Joyce last month sensationally claimed it was not the job of the government to come up with the blueprint to reach net-zero emissions.

The deputy prime minister’s comments were part of a wide ranging address to the National Press Club, where he announced the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority would shift north from Canberra to Bowen.

“The North Queensland Water Authority, currently based here in Canberra, is moving to North Queensland. Adjacent to where we are building a dam. And the same region where we are building Hells Gate dam, where we will start on a long-term nation-building task of expanding irrigated agriculture by moving a proportion of the abundant resource of water west,” he said.

A business case to continue the inland rail from Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland Rail Connection was also announced.