"I've got a child and am pregnant with a second and I'd quite like them to be able to breathe the air and drink the water when they grow up"
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/generational-evolution-forces-nationals-to-consider-adopting-emissions-intensity-scheme-20170518-gw7wdr.html
An emissions intensity scheme could become official policy of the NSW Nationals on Friday, a move that would represent a split from the federal leadership and a challenge to the Turnbull government's climate change agenda.
After the state's Young Nationals backed the contentious proposal in April, the motion will be on the agenda at the party's annual conference, a two-day gathering that will draw hundreds of rank-and-file supporters, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
The call for a national emission intensity scheme will be hotly contested as will the removal of abortion from the NSW Crimes Act and an increased Syrian refugee intake.
The policy battles highlight the generational evolution taking place within the party, which is deeply conservative at a parliamentary level but more socially and environmentally progressive among younger members.
Jess Price-Purnell, chair of the NSW Young Nationals, said rural and regional Australians could see climate change happening and younger residents were generally more open-minded.
"I've got a child and am pregnant with a second and I'd quite like them to be able to breathe the air and drink the water when they grow up," Ms Price-Purnell said.
"I'm not happy to sit by and do nothing. I'm a big believer in changing things that need to be changed. Even if the motion doesn't get up, we're excited about starting the conversation about future-proofing ourselves and our energy security."
Several attendees said it was difficult to predict the outcome of the vote but said the motion had attracted strong support and had a good chance of passing. One source predicted "probably not but I wouldn't stake my life on that".
The chair of the party's NSW Women's Council, Claire Coulton, said many farmers were concerned about the implications of climate change for the bush.
