Labor makes hay as coalition abandon net zero pledge
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley insists her party’s decision to abandon Australia’s climate targets will not affect its popularity in city seats, while progressive campaigners are pouring resources into the controversial move.
The coalition plans to finalize its official climate policy in the coming days; The Liberals are committed to abandoning net-zero emissions and other temporary emissions reduction targets by 2050 if they win government.
Labor and Climate 200, which provides financial support to “orange” independent candidates, sent out fundraising emails following the policy change more than two years after the next federal election.
Under the plan put forward by the Liberals on Thursday, new and existing coal and gas plants would receive subsidies from taxpayers. The party claims this will lower energy prices while also reducing carbon emissions in the long run.
Ms Ley said her proposal would keep Australia within the Paris climate agreement, a landmark deal the government signed when the coalition was last in power.
The agreement bans countries from watering down their emissions-cutting commitments, but Ms Ley does not appear concerned that her plan would put Australia in breach of the agreement.
“If there are reasons why people in Paris or some organization at the United Nations don’t like it, I can deal with that,” he said.
Asked how the new energy policy would help the coalition win back the capital seats it lost to independents in the last two elections, Ms Ley said energy prices were a major concern for all voters.
“Let’s not misunderstand what climate action is,” he said.
“If people think this government’s so-called climate action approach is working, then they really need to take a hard look at it because it’s not actually reducing emissions.”
Progressive political campaigners wasted no time blasting fundraising emails following the policy change.
“If the Libs want to make fringe views their official policy, the liberals will continue to rise and push them to the margins,” wrote Climate 200 executive director Byron Fay.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen accused the Liberals of abandoning action on climate change in an email titled “this is what we’re against”, with options to join Labor or donate at the bottom of the message.
Former Liberal MP and moderate Fiona Martin said it was a “sad day” for the Liberal party.
“Just because you don’t think you can achieve a goal doesn’t mean you should give up on it. Liberals once led the future, today they have led us backwards,” Ms Martin told AAP.
Now the Liberals have agreed on a formal policy; They must negotiate with the National Party, which unanimously agreed to abandon net zero in early November.
Three representatives from each party will meet in the coming days to create a common coalition policy that is expected to be approved at a virtual meeting on Sunday.
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