Energy Minister Angus Taylor is staring down mounting international pressure to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
With the election of Joe Biden as president in the United States, Australia's five biggest export markets are aiming to be carbon neutral by mid-century or 2060 at the latest.
Every state and territory and many business and industry groups have also set net zero targets, making the Morrison government an obvious outlier in Australia and on the global stage.
Mr Taylor criticised other countries for setting climate targets without detailing plans to achieve them.
He argued "unfunded policies with feel good targets" were no way to bring down emissions.
"The Paris Agreement requires net zero and we want it to happen as soon as possible, but the path way is what counts," he told ABC radio on Thursday.
"We don't commit to targets without a pathway to get there."
Asked if other nations were wrong to commit to firm climate change targets, Mr Taylor said every country was in a different situation.
"We are a country that exports energy-intensive goods to the world, we've brought down global emissions by doing that," he said.
"When we sell gas to another country that uses that gas as a substitute for higher emitting alternatives, we are bringing down global emissions, so we have a crucial role to play globally in this."
Mr Taylor also said committing to net zero by 2050 would require Australia to make much deeper emissions reductions by 2030, which he claimed would cost jobs.
The minister is holding a roundtable with the gas sector on Thursday to discuss an industry code of conduct which he says will enhance competition and bring down prices.
Labor divisions continue
Meanwhile, rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon has called for the party's climate change spokesman Mark Butler to be stripped of the portfolio.
The factional enemies were locked in a bitter dispute on energy policy leading up to .
Mr Fitzgibbon said Labor needed a new person to convince voters the party's climate policy would not hurt family budgets or industries.
"Mark can go to another senior portfolio. He's a very smart guy," the NSW right faction heavyweight told Sky News.
"There are plenty of things he could do but we need a new advocate bringing a fresh face and a fresh approach."
Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Butler had been in the role for seven years, presiding over two election losses with climate policies rejected on both occasions.
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles rejected calls for the climate spokesman to be dumped.
Labor's Joel Fitzgibbon speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House. Source: AAP
"I think Mark has done a fantastic job," he told Sky.
Mr Marles said Mr Butler had been a success despite Labor's shock election defeat last year.
"Being a party that has sought to act on climate change meaningfully has been central to what we have been about since day one and Mark has led that very successfully for us," the deputy Labor leader said.
"Where I think we failed in 2019 was to speak on behalf of a lot of people who work in industries which involve fossil fuels."
Mr Fitzgibbon insisted he was focused on his Hunter Valley electorate rather than returning to the front bench to replace Mr Butler.
"I'm just a humble back bencher in her majesty's loyal opposition," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"I'm going home to focus on my electorate and win back the hearts and minds of my people."
After spending the week outlining a pitch to woo blue-collar votes, Mr Fitzgibbon had more advice for Anthony Albanese.
Mark Butler and Anthony Albanese during Question Time in House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
He wants the opposition leader to visit coal mines, gas projects, abattoirs and manufacturing plants in regional NSW and Queensland.
"Shake some hands, show some love and thank them for what they are doing for their country."
Mr Albanese toured central and western Queensland in December.
