Nationals MPs have clashed with their Liberal colleagues over climate change policy and the need for a new coal-fired power station in another sign of the tension within the Morrison government over calls for action in the wake of the summer bushfires.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce led calls to reject pressure for stronger action on climate change at a Coalition party room meeting soon after he lost a leadership spill against Nationals leader Michael McCormack.

Nationals MP George Christensen and former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce both spoke up about the need to push back against stronger climate action. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Outspoken Queensland Nationals MP George Christensen provoked some of the Liberals at the meeting by dismissing the need for further action on climate change on the grounds the issue was only of interest to Greens voters in the inner suburbs of the major cities.

Mr Christensen reminded the meeting of government promises in the past to support a coal-fired power station in Queensland, signalling the frustration within the Nationals that the feasibility study into the project in Collinsville was not moving fast enough.