Liberal elder blasts Nationals over net zero stance
A Liberal elder has blasted the National Party for breaking with its coalition partners on a target of net zero by 2050, as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley prepares to unveil her long-awaited climate and energy policy.
Liberal MPs and senators will meet in the next two weeks to discuss the final details of a new energy plan after disagreements emerged over which direction the coalition should take following Labour’s landslide election victory in May.
Internal debates over the Coalition’s energy policy gained new momentum over the weekend when the National Party announced they were abandoning any commitment to net zero by 2050.
Phillip Ruddock, the second longest-serving MP in Australian history, has questioned the regional party’s decision to go its own way on the issue.
“It’s not a very solid coalition to meet separately and say this is our position and if you don’t like it you’re on your own,” he told AAP.
Mr Ruddock said the coalition would be best served by the Liberals and Nationals working together as a team.
As we move away from net zero, citizens believe emissions reductions should be pegged to the average of similar countries within the OECD.
The move, which comes after a disastrous poll showing support for the Liberals has reached historic lows, has sparked speculation that Ms Ley’s days at the party’s top echelon may be numbered.
Some Liberals, mostly from the conservative wing, undermine their leaders publicly and privately.
Mr Ruddock called on MPs to work together.
“I’m of the opinion that you get the best result when you have a team, not a team of champions,” he said.
No firm date has yet been set for the Liberals’ energy policy meeting, but November 23 has been marked as the Sunday before the final parliamentary meeting of the year.
Lawmakers want the row resolved before parliament convenes this year.
Party insiders have also downplayed the possibility of a leadership leak on this issue this year.
Moderate Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said Australia would become a “pariah state” if it abandoned its 2050 target.
Fellow frontrunner Tim Wilson said Ms Ley should defend the Liberals and their right to make their own decisions on policy.
He praised his leader for standing up to the National Party when the coalition briefly split earlier in the year.
“He didn’t back down because he knew once he lost his moral authority you couldn’t take it back,” Mr Wilson told Sky News.
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