Coalition’s climate change policy fight ‘unavoidable’

A political divorce between the Liberal and National parties may be necessary to save the coalition from “damaging” infighting over divisive climate policy, an analyst says.

Moderate Liberal MPs are discussing leaving the National Party after the rural party voted to abandon its commitments to net zero emissions by 2050 at a meeting on Sunday.

As Sussan Ley’s inner circle tries to back out of the climate target, this puts additional pressure on her leadership.

The opposition leader said the Nationals were entitled to take their own position on net zero.

While some liberals are open to a rupture in relations, others say the longer the two parties remain apart, the more difficult it will be to reunite and pose a greater risk of separation in other policy areas.

Monash University head of politics Zareh Ghazarian said the split wouldn’t be a bad idea as it would give the parties some time.

“They will be able to put their house in order and think about whether they want to come back as a coalition before the next election,” he told AAP.

“It would be more politically harmful if the coalition were constantly in conflict with each other.

“Solving the issue of climate change is inevitable for the parties, and if that means they need to give each other a break after the May election, as they have suggested, then this could be an opportunity to do that.”

Dr Ghazarian highlighted climate change policy challenges presented to previous prime ministers, including Malcolm Turnbull.

Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan said the party would likely finalize its position by the end of 2025.

Liberal frontrunner Andrew Bragg has called for some form of protection of the climate target, stressing that Australia must meet its international obligations.

“The Paris Agreement requires you to get to net zero in the second half of this century,” Senator Bragg told Sky News.

“I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility for Australia to be able to achieve that.”