'Forget night footy': Michael McCormack warns against Labor's renewables target

Nationals leader talks tough on energy in face of demoralised party room, saying he stands for affordable power

The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, has suggested renewable energy will eliminate night sport in Australia, declaring voters can "forget night footy" and "forget night cricket" if Labor wins the election and legislates a 45% emissions reduction target, or if Australia moves in the direction of an electricity grid powered by renewables.

McCormack, who heads a demoralised party room, and has had the former party leader Barnaby Joyce signalling in recent days he wants to return to the top job, claimed on Sunday it was "nonsense claptrap", "rubbish" and "absolute garbage" that Australia could provide its energy needs from 100% renewables.