Scott Morrison has dismissed claims of a rift in the Liberal-National coalition over climate policy, with the prime minister claiming the issue had been resolved.
His comments came after Queensland Nationals senator and former minister Matt Canavan - who is up for re-election - said the government's net-zero emissions by 2050 target was "dead".
Speaking to reporters in Rockhampton on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said the government supported the climate target.
"Everyone knows that Matt hasn't been supportive of that position, there's no news there," he said.
"That debate has been done in the coalition and is resolved, our policy was set out very clearly, and it has the strong support of the government."
Coalition colleagues on Wednesday were quick to dismiss the senator's comments, with Nationals MPs saying the junior coalition partner was committed to net-zero.
Campaigning alongside the prime minister, Nationals member for Capricornia Michelle Landry told Senator Canavan to toe the party line.
"Pull your head in, Matt," she said. "I agree with the government's position, I'm in one of the biggest coal mining electorates in the country."
The prime minister used Wednesday's press conference to attack Labor on climate change, accusing the opposition of planning a "sneaky carbon tax" on the coal industry, fuel supplies and transport.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday there would never be a carbon tax under his government.
Both major parties are committed to using the existing safeguard mechanism as the bedrock of their emissions policies.
The Business Council of Australia said continuing agreement on the mechanism, and a suite of other measures to cut emissions, was crucial for the nation.
"The concrete, bipartisan commitment to net-zero emissions was a critical step towards giving businesses the certainty they need to make investments, create new jobs, keep Australia an energy superpower and deliver affordable, reliable and secure energy," it said on Twitter.
NSW Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said Senator Canavan's comments did not reflect the majority view of the National Party.
"Nats are country people and when country people look you in the eye and shake your hand and say, 'that's a deal', then it's a deal," he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday.
"It doesn't help (election chances). (Senator Canavan) needs to be talking about the good things that we've done ... many of the programs that I put in place when I was the deputy prime minister, that's what he needs to be talking about."
Labor's climate spokesman Chris Bowen said the coalition was still arguing over the basics when it comes to action on climate change.
"These climate deniers and delayers will continue to be a handbrake on real action on climate after nine years in office," he told ABC Radio National.
Climate is resonating as an issue ahead of the May 21 election.
A new survey by Griffith University's Climate Action Beacon found 76 per cent of voters stated climate would be an issue for them at the ballot box.
However the proportion varied across political parties, with 72 per cent of Labor voters saying climate was a key issue while 45 per cent of Liberal Party voters stated it was relevant.
