He said he had faced fires and drought in his community, that some people were trying to push their hobbyhorse issues out of these tragedies and to need to always remember those who get hurt from any suggestions of policies when people are pursuing reactionary approaches.
Mr Joyce ran for the leadership on an anti-environmental platform.
He was backed by Mr Gillespie, who backed Mr Joyce in the spill and ran unsuccessfully for deputy leader against David Littleproud.
Liberal MP Katie Allen, who holds the Melbourne seat of Higgins, pushed back. She highlighted the need to tackle climate change and endorse the use of technology to lower emissions as outlined by Scott Morrison at the National Press Club last week.
North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman went further, saying that more was needed. Mr Zimmerman said the Nationals were wrong to assume climate change was not an issue just because it did not register in their seats.
He said if the party, for example, wanted to win back the seat of Warringah, which Tony Abbott lost to Zali Steggall at the last election, it had to get serious abut climate change. He did not elaborate on what more measures were needed.
Similarly, Fiona Martin who holds the Western Sydney seat of Reid, which has experienced a record heat wave this summer, said climate change had become a major issue in her seats.
Victorian Liberal Tim Wilson also chimed in.
Mr Christensen backed Mr Joyce and Mr Gillespie and said coal had saved five seats in Queensland at the last election. Matt Canavan, who has lost his Resources ministry for backing Mr Joyce, spoke about the importance of the coal industry and the jobs it creates in regional communities.
At the earlier Liberals-only meeting, Queenslander Andrew Laming said the Coalition had to stop questioning the science of climate change.
“These fires have been fueled by one of the worst droughts on record, changing in our climate and a build up in fuel amongst other factors,” the PM said.
The issue was settled and the Coalition had a policy and targets and it should get on with it, he said.
Mr Morrison was unambiguous about the link between the fires and climate change in his speech to Parliament to lead off a day of condolences for the victims of the fires.
“Following a natural disaster of this magnitude, we must also heed the lessons,” he said.
“These fires have been fueled by one of the worst droughts on record, changing in our climate and a build-up in fuel amongst other factors.
“Our summers are getting longer, drier and hotter, that’s what climate change does, and that requires a new responsiveness, resilience and a re-invigorated focus on adaptation.”
