Blunt message on climate backflip that stunned Canberra
Australia’s first climate change minister has sent a clear message as the coalition moves away from carbon emissions targets.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, a veteran of Canberra’s so-called climate wars, said the coalition’s decision to abandon net zero would do little to change public opinion.
Senator Wong questioned what had happened to the Liberal Party and warned against drifting to the right.
“This was a seriously mainstream political party in this country, and now it’s been invaded by those on the fringes,” he told ABC News.
“They’re trying to surround Pauline Hanson. I would say to Sussan Ley, Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor, you can’t be more Pauline than Pauline.”
Senator Wong said watered-down climate targets would increase energy prices for Australians and show disrespect for Pacific nations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed his comments, saying the coalition’s “uncertainty” on energy and climate policy would put increasing pressure on energy prices.
“If anyone thinks there is certainty in the coalition moving forward, then they are not paying any attention to the rabble and clown show that the coalition has become when it comes to energy policy and climate policy,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.
“And uncertainty may be something that people follow this week as they go from meeting to meeting and to another meeting to try to say something and pretend to have a common stance.
“The real problem is what takes away the certainty of investment – it destroys investment and less investment means higher energy prices.”
Liberal frontbencher Jonathon Duniam defended the coalition’s decision to move away from net zero by 2050, saying that was too far off to set targets under the Paris Agreement.
According to the agreement, countries must submit climate action plans detailing greenhouse gas reduction targets.
These plans need to be updated every five years to include more ambitious targets.
Senator Duniam rejected suggestions that a climate rollback could harm the coalition in the next election or on the international stage.
The coalition’s climate policy was expected to be formalized at a meeting between Liberal and National party members on Sunday.
Climate policy has been a contentious issue within the coalition for decades.
In the last two federal elections, the Liberal Party lost inner-city seats to independent candidates focused on climate action.
