D-Day for Liberal climate policy after marathon meeting
The Liberals are expected to ditch their net-zero policy after a marathon meeting that exposed the party’s bitter divide on climate and energy policy.
Source: AAP
The shadow cabinet set to convene in Canberra on Thursday morning to finalise its approach to reducing carbon emissions, with an announcement expected shortly after.
The decision follows hours-long talks between all 51 Liberal MPs and senators on Wednesday, as leader Sussan Ley’s future remains under a cloud.
A majority of party members spoke in favour of ditching Australia’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, according to people in the room.
The ABC and News Corp reported that 28 members were against net zero and 17 members had spoken in favour of it.
Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan wouldn’t be drawn on the details of party room discussions but said all members were given the chance to have their say.
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“There was very, very passionate discussions in the room, because energy and emissions reduction is an issue that everyone cares deeply about,” he said on Wednesday.
Ley, whose position has come under significant pressure amid the debate over the policy, said the meeting was “excellent”, but didn’t answer questions about whether her colleagues were united on the issue.
Tehan unveiled a list of 10 principles that will inform Thursday’s decision. They include the two “foundational principles” of keeping the nation’s power supply stable and affordable, while also taking some action to reduce emissions.
The list also includes a promise to extend the life of ageing coal power plants for as long as possible, lift the ban on nuclear power and scrap Labor policies that Liberal MPs say amount to “sneaky carbon taxes”.
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The Liberals are widely tipped to retain an aspiration to reach net zero emissions at some point, but not by 2050 as legislated.
Once they announce their policy, they must still negotiate a shared position with Coalition partner the Nationals.
A joint party room meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, where the political allies are expected to announce a final deal on the issue.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who signed Australia up to the Paris climate agreement in 2015 but urged later governments to leave the accord, said he was encouraged by the Liberals’ approach.
“You should never put cutting emissions ahead of saving jobs, keeping industries and trying to make people’s cost of living affordable,” he told Sky News.
Western Sydney Liberal Melissa McIntosh said the meeting was positive and she hoped her colleagues would abandon net zero.
“It felt like in the room there was more people in agreement [with dumping net zero] than against,” she told ABC TV.
-with AAP
