Warning for Liberals on net zero as axing calls grow
Grace Crivellaro |
The coalition is unlikely to be in power for another decade if the Liberals follow the Nationals in jettisoning their commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, an expert warns.
The Nationals voted unanimously over the weekend to drop the target from the party’s official platform, setting up a potential clash with the Liberals.
Moderate Liberal MPs have advocated for the party to maintain its support for the target, while conservatives have urged leader Sussan Ley to abandon the pledge.
Kos Samaras, founder of research firm Redbridge, said the coalition risked losing much-needed votes from younger Australians after its election drubbing in May if it dropped the climate commitment.
“Politically, at this rate, they won’t be in government in the next 10 years,” Mr Samaras told AAP.
“The coalition is only securing 15 to 16 per cent of Gen Z voters in this country.
“This entire saga is going to continue to basically put more nails on that coffin of theirs when it comes to talking to younger Australians.”
Ms Ley said the Nationals were entitled to take their own position on net zero.
“I always said that the Nationals would come to their decision in their party room and the Liberals would similarly come to our decision in our party room,” Ms Ley told reporters at Parliament House on Monday.
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg called for the target to be retained in some form, stressing that Australia must maintain its international obligations.
“The Paris Accord requires you to get to net zero in the second half of this century,” Senator Bragg told Sky News.
“I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that Australia could achieve that.”
However, Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson hopes her colleagues support the Nationals’ position and “turn our back entirely on Labor’s terrible net zero laws”.
Fellow backbencher Rick Wilson called for the opposition to get rid of the target, and said his vast electorate of O’Connor in southeast WA is “ground zero for net zero”.
Debating maverick Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce’s bill to scrap net zero in parliament on Monday, Mr Wilson said he was frustrated agricultural land was being converted into renewables projects.
Mr Joyce, who has flagged his intention to quit the Nationals amid frustration over net zero, said he had more to go through before making a decision on his political future, despite the target being dropped.
As division within the opposition reached a fever pitch, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would “leave the coalition to their chaos and infighting”.
He acknowledged power prices and the cost of living are impacting households, but laid some of the blame on the former government.
“What has occurred on power prices is a product in part of the dysfunction and chaos that’s been there (in) the coalition – 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced their closure,” the prime minister told reporters in Canberra.
“They had no plan to do anything other than fighting each other, and that’s continuing today.”
The Nationals’ position has put the party out of step with the Business Council of Australia and National Farmers’ Federation, but leader David Littleproud said he wouldn’t be taking “gratuitous advice” from others.
The party argued Australia is doing its fair share to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s goals should be brought into line with an average among comparable nations.
Mr Littleproud said he would not be pressuring the Liberal Party to drop its commitment.
AAP
