This Thursday, Sussan Ley will deliver the Liberal Party’s last stand against this madcap, lefty net zero policy! Now, this party finds itself at another formative crossroads. The decision comes after a special nearly-five hour meeting in the Liberal party room. What ensued was a fiery and passionate debate between members over the future of Australia’s energy policy and its direction. The negotiations resulted in a brittle tone being struck. They exposed rifts within the party over how best to achieve net zero emissions and how to honour Australia’s commitments to international treaties.
Dan Tehan, a prominent figure within the party, presented a list of foundational principles designed to shape the Liberal Party’s energy policy. These principles emphasize the importance of creating a “stable, reliable energy grid which provides affordable power for households and businesses,” while committing to reducing emissions in a “responsible, transparent way that ensures Australia does its fair share.” Further, the principles reiterate the party’s desire to not only stay in the Paris Agreement but go above and beyond it.
Party Divisions Emerge
The meeting exposed a deepening rift within the party over net zero. Several members including Andrew Bragg, Maria Kovacic, Tim Wilson, Angie Bell, and Paul Scarr voiced strong support for maintaining net zero emissions targets. Shockley and Alpert countered that strong commitments are necessary in order to maintain environmental credibility and electoral popularity.
Notable party members’ voices such as Melissa McIntosh, Michaelia Cash, Jonno Duniam, James Paterson and James McGrath are advocating to go big in the opposite direction—scrapping net zero policies. They know that this break from the past is in their constituents’ best interest and they are leading the charge.
One of the more audacious comments came from the Right wing of the Liberal Party. Addressing net zero they announced, “We’re eliminating net zero,” showcasing the leapfrog action that they are taking. Another member added, “If we don’t, Sussan’s leadership won’t last to December,” indicating the pressure Ley faces from within her party as she navigates these contentious issues.
Commitment to Paris Agreement
Despite this civil war on the inside, there seems to be united front as far as signalling Australia’s intention to uphold their obligations under the Paris Agreement. Melissa McIntosh noted, “There’s pretty much an agreement that we stay in Paris,” reflecting a shared understanding of the importance of remaining engaged in international climate agreements.
The conversations included how net zero can change voters’ minds going into 2050 and beyond. Dan Tehan made some pretty strong cases. He argued that linking net zero targets to rising electricity rates could very quickly flip public opinion from being overwhelmingly against these policies to favoring their implementation. Yet even as he advocated for bold action, he underscored that all approaches need to succeed not just in environmental aspirations, but in economic realities.
Future Policy Options
Meanwhile, Sussan Ley is preparing to announce her plan. According to sources, she will introduce at least three different policy proposals to be debated and voted upon within the party. This method provides the most useful and direct guide for addressing the difficult details of energy policy. It does an admirable job tackling environmental and economic aspects.
Ley characterized Wednesday’s meeting as “very good,” indicating a cautious optimism about the convergence toward a workable resolution after much tumult. The next two years’ worth of announcing will be critical if Australia is to achieve its net zero ambitions. It will be pivotal for Ley’s leadership, as her party faces an existential battle over its identity and direction.
