The government has committed $4 million towards a feasibility study into the proposal but has no intention of putting any more taxpayer funds into it.
A spill would also force changes to the ministry with Mr Joyce making a return to cabinet.Bridget McKenzie, who was stood down in 2020 over the sports rorts affair, and who last week mounted a blitz against net zero by 2050, would be in line to make a return.It is understood Matt Canavan, who has been on the backbench since the last unsuccessful tilt at Mr McCormack, does not want to return to the ministry straight away.However, sources warned some of Mr MCormack’s allies who cannot abide Mr Joyce could defect to the Liberals or the crossbenches and are threatening to do so.David Littleproud and Keith Pitt will stay in cabinet while Senator Susan McDonald could be promoted.Numbers in the 21-member party have been tight for years and Mr McCormack has always had a slight ascendancy. But sources said a handful, such as Andrew Gee, have shifted in recent times.The renewed push against Mr McCormack started in budget week when the Nationals felt the party did not receive sufficient credit for infrastructure policy announcements. Some Nationals say Mr Morrison and the Liberals bear some of the blame for this.The move grew last week when Mr McCormack had awkward moments in Parliament while acting Prime Minister, and did not endorse comments by colleague and cabinet minister Keith Pitt, which were hostile to net zero emissions by 2050.Mr Joyce was leader of the nationals from 2016 to 2018. He was forced to step aside after details of an extramarital affair became public.
