Bridget McKenzie won’t say whether Nationals would block stronger climate targets in minority negotiations

Bridget McKenzie says she is ‘not dealing in hypotheticals’ about minority government negotiations. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Nationals minister Bridget McKenzie has refused to say whether the junior Coalition partner would block any increased ambition on climate policy in the event Scott Morrison attempted to form a minority government with the support of teal independents after 21 May.

Despite facing multiple questions about the Nationals’ position on the ABC on Monday morning, McKenzie declined to be candid about whether or not her party would accept any increase in the government’s widely criticised medium term emissions reduction target.