Liberal leader Sussan Ley has backtracked after initially stating the Coalition does not believe in setting climate targets, later clarifying she meant only while in opposition. Speaking at a press conference, Ley first said, 'We don’t believe in setting targets at all from opposition or from government,' but quickly returned to correct herself, claiming she 'misspoke' and that the party recognises the importance of targets in government.
Ley indicated the Coalition will not set a 2030 or 2035 target unless they return to government, as her colleagues do not support locking in emissions goals while in opposition. She criticised the government's 62-70% emissions reduction target by 2035 as 'economy-wrecking' but declined to nominate an alternative. The Coalition remains committed to net zero by 2050, though Ley faces pressure from conservatives to abandon the pledge.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ridiculed Ley's gaffe, accusing the opposition of changing policies 'from hour to hour' and suggesting the comment amounted to a withdrawal from the Paris Agreement—a claim Coalition sources strongly denied. Albanese also declined to guarantee power price falls under the government's target, while Energy Minister Chris Bowen described projected savings of $1,000 a year as modelling, not a promise.
The government's 2035 target has drawn cautious support from business groups but criticism from climate groups who argue it falls short of what is needed to combat global heating. Ley's initial remarks and subsequent clarification have highlighted internal divisions within the Coalition over climate policy.
