Sussan Ley showed up with a steely tone and strong message but forgot one group

The opposition leader was defensive when asked how his policies would help the mission to win back seats in the city – including six seats lost to turquoise independents campaigning for stronger climate action.

“Let’s not misunderstand what climate action is,” Ley said. “If people think this government’s so-called climate action approach is working, then they should really take a hard look at it.”

Ley went on to rant about Labour’s record and lack of accountability – “you’ve got a Labor Party in government that can’t even explain how it’s going to get to net zero by 2050”, before noting that “our friends in the media” haven’t asked the government really important questions.

But when the reporter began to interject, he turned back to the voters at the heart of the issue. “And on the issue of seats,” Ley added, sticking to his words, “we will of course present and present serious, credible and compelling policy alternatives at the next election.”

He later regained his steeliness. “I know people in the city are struggling with energy affordability,” he said. He especially knew the problems of people working in energy-intensive fields such as heavy industry, potential data centers, artificial intelligence or local small businesses producing from aluminum.

“These are questions that are extremely relevant to people in cities,” he said. “I’m talking about mothers with children who are struggling to pay the bills, and I meet them all the time in cities.” (Ley did not say when asked when a mother with young children would see a lower electric bill.)

It is fair for Ley to acknowledge that Australian cities are home to people with diverse experiences of wealth, employment or cost pressures, and many would describe energy prices as a bigger concern than climate action.

But he was indifferent to the obvious.

The Liberals’ path to recapturing government is through the cities, and Ley’s leadership relies on factional support from moderates. Gisele Kapterian, who failed to retain Bradfield for the Liberals, warned senior shadow ministers a few days ago that abandoning climate targets would be an electoral liability in inner-city seats.

“Net zero language is an indication of how seriously we take our commitment to a sustainable future,” he said.

Goldstein MP Tim Wilson, the only inner-city Liberal in the country, has spent this week highlighting the importance of sovereign climate targets.

Instead they received two olive branches.

Sen. Anne Ruston, leader of the moderates, announced these in a somber addition to the lineup at Thursday’s press conference. “Reality tells us we always have to compromise,” Ruston said.

“I’m obviously very pleased that we’re staying in Paris and that we’re committed to reducing emissions, and I think that’s a very positive outcome.”

He didn’t look.

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Some moderate Liberals also point to a line in Thursday’s statement, saying net zero would be a “welcome outcome” if it were to happen.

This is a fig leaf. Ley emphasized that net zero is neither an aspiration nor a goal. “Others may be playing on words. I couldn’t be clearer when I say we are removing net zero targets and long-term targets from our policy,” he said.

But given the numbers were so small, puns were a last resort. Ley did not quantify what actual emissions reductions look like; He said it was about “doing our fair share with comparable countries” and “doing it as quickly and as quickly as technologies allow.”

That’s all Wilson and the Rustons can sell.

Ley’s answer to Thursday’s final question could make that task even more difficult. Ley was cheerful when asked to explain how liberal policy was compatible with the Paris Agreement.

“We will look Australians in the eye and say ‘this is a plan to reduce emissions and get you affordable energy’,” he said.

“And if there are reasons why people in Paris or some United Nations agency don’t like it, I can handle that.”

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