The federal government's second-in-charge has dismissed calls to consider a policy of net zero emissions by 2050 without first being shown the cost.
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Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce likened agreeing to the 2050 target to eating at a restaurant without first knowing the menu or the cost of your meals.
The National Party leader recently returned to the party's top role after sitting on the sidelines for more than three years. He's long avoided publicly agreeing to the target without the total backing of the party room.
Mr Joyce was asked on the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday whether he supported the target after reports others in the Nationals Party were "open" to the idea.
"Generally how restaurants work is you go in and have a menu and they have what's on the menu for lunch and what the price is," Mr Joyce said on Sunday morning.
"That is how a competent decision is made and that's what we're looking for. What's on the menu and what the price is."
The Labor Party's approach is that they don't care what's on the menu, he said.
"They don't care what is the price and when what turns up is sauteed gherkins and sashimi tadpoles, they'll accept anything for lunch," he said.
"Show us what's on the menu and show us what it costs and we'll decide whether we're going to eat it."
Asked again by Insiders host David Speers whether he was in favour of net zero by 2050, Mr Joyce said he couldn't be clearer.
"I'm quite happy to consider the menu when you tell me what's on it and what it costs. Tell me what it costs. Tell me how we do it," he said.