In a significant reversal of environmental policy, Australia's Liberal party has officially abandoned its commitment to the nation's net zero emissions target. The decision concludes months of bitter internal debate within the opposition coalition.
A Decision Forged in Marathon Meetings
The formal announcement is set to be delivered by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Thursday, following a conclusive meeting of the Liberal shadow ministry. This frontbench gathering was convened to resolve the party's stance after an extensive, nearly five-hour party room debate held on Wednesday.
During that lengthy session, a majority of Liberal MPs voiced their support for discarding the net zero by 2050 target, a policy established under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This move aligns the Liberals with their coalition partners, the Nationals, effectively ending the Coalition's unified commitment to the climate goal.
Internal Divisions and Political Concessions
The outcome represents a victory for the party's conservative wing and is seen as a measure to prevent potential leadership challenges from figures like Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie, who had advocated for dropping the target. However, the party's federal director, Andrew Hirst, had previously cautioned MPs that voters directly associate net zero with meaningful action on climate change.
In a concession to moderate Liberals, including Senators Andrew Bragg and Maria Kovacic, the shadow ministry agreed that a future Coalition government would not withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, MPs will be permitted to publicly state that achieving net zero would be a "welcome outcome" in the future.
Political Fallout and External Reactions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to criticise the decision, asserting that the Coalition is walking away from net zero because it "fundamentally" does not believe in the science of climate change. He warned that such an approach would damage investment, job creation, and Australia's international relationships.
Meanwhile, within Liberal ranks, Senator Andrew McLachlan, a supporter of the net zero target, issued a stark warning. He stated it would be "very difficult" to win back city electorates if the party abandoned the policy, emphasising that the broader community and business sector have moved on.
The next step will see three Liberals and three Nationals tasked with developing a joint Coalition energy policy, which will be presented to the joint party room for approval on Sunday.
