D-Day for Liberal climate policy after marathon meeting
Liberals are preparing to announce new climate change and energy policies after a marathon meeting attended by MPs and senators in the country’s capital.
The party’s shadow cabinet will meet in Canberra on Thursday morning to finalize its approach to reducing carbon emissions, with an announcement expected shortly.
The decision came after hours of talks between all 51 Liberal MPs and senators, in which a majority of party members spoke in favor of ditching Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, according to people in the room.
Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan did not elaborate on details of discussions in the party room but said all members had been given the opportunity to speak.
“There were very, very passionate discussions in the room, because energy and reducing emissions is an issue that everyone cares deeply about,” he told reporters Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, whose position has come under significant pressure after criticizing the party’s policy, said the meeting was “excellent” but did not respond to questions about whether her colleagues were united on the issue.
Mr Tehan outlined a list of 10 principles that would influence Thursday’s decision; These include two “fundamental principles” to keep the country’s energy supply stable and affordable, as well as taking some action to reduce emissions.
The list also includes promises to extend the life of aging coal power plants as much as possible, lift the ban on nuclear power and scrap a range of Labor policies that Liberal MPs say amount to “insidious carbon taxes”.
It’s widely predicted that the Liberals will pursue the goal of reaching net-zero emissions at some point, but not by 2050 as currently legislated.
After announcing its policy, the party needs to negotiate a common stance with its coalition partner, the Nationals.
A joint party room meeting is planned for Sunday, where political allies are expected to reach a final agreement on the issue.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who signed Australia to the Paris climate agreement in 2015 but later called on governments to withdraw from the deal, said he was encouraged by the Liberals’ approach.
“You should never put reducing emissions above saving jobs, protecting industries and trying to rationalize people’s costs of living,” he told Sky News.
Western Sydney Liberal Melissa McIntosh said the meeting was positive and she hoped her colleagues would abandon net zero.
“I felt like there were more people in the room who agreed (with the idea of launching net zero) than there were who were against it,” he told ABC TV.
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