Liberal Party Begins Multi-Day Net Zero Showdown as Moderates Threaten to Quit Over Climate Target
Senator says party “more united than divided” despite looming confrontation over whether to dump 2050 emissions commitment
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Liberal Party lawmakers began gathering in Canberra Tuesday for a multi-day showdown over whether to abandon the party’s net zero emissions target, with moderate MPs threatening to quit the frontbench if the commitment is scrapped.
The confrontation, which will run through Sunday, represents a critical test for Liberal Leader Susan Lee as conservative and moderate factions clash over the party’s climate policy direction. New polling shows Australians remain divided on the target, with 31% supporting dropping net zero while 48% say it should be an aspiration rather than a binding commitment.
Liberal Senator Jane Hume told Sky News AM Agenda Tuesday the party room is “far more united than is divided,” but acknowledged the heated debate over net zero language threatens to overshadow broader agreement on energy policy.
“I think that’s a really important place to start,” Hume said. “We all agree that emissions need to come down and we all agree that Labor’s policy is not only not bringing emissions down, but it’s driving electricity prices up.”
The senator emphasized electricity bills have increased 40% in three years under the current government, calling the trend “entirely unsustainable.”
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Moderates Warn of Walkouts
Multiple moderate Liberal MPs, including Andrew Bragg, have indicated they may resign from the frontbench if the party abandons its net zero commitment, according to reports. When asked how many colleagues might take similar action, Hume declined to speculate.
“I’m not going to speculate on that,” Hume said. “In fact, I personally think that the best place that you can affect change is if you’re in the room where decisions are made.”
The senator stressed the importance of maintaining diverse viewpoints during the deliberations.
“The most important thing is that we have that diversity of views in the room and that we come to a sensible outcome,” Hume said, “a sensible outcome that will lower emissions, that will lower electricity prices and will make sure that we appeal to those voters that we have lost on the journey.”
Hume framed the debate as essential to the party’s electoral prospects, saying the coalition’s “first obligation is to return to government.”
“We do that by making sure that we demonstrate credibility to our voters,” she said. “Credibility on both energy prices and energy policy, as well as climate policy.”
Energy Policy Platform Outlined
Hume outlined the Liberal Party’s alternative approach to lowering emissions while reducing electricity costs, emphasizing five key elements:
The party plans to bring more gas into the energy system, lift the moratorium on nuclear energy to introduce new technologies, eliminate corporate welfare for proven technologies, ensure social license and community consultation for renewables rollout, and maintain commitment to the Paris Agreement.
“There is a better way, and we all agree on that,” Hume said. “There’s an Australian way to getting to a lower emissions future as well as bringing electricity prices down.”
The senator criticized current policy for providing taxpayer funding “to help corporations get to their net zero target, not the country get its” emissions reduction goals.
Hume also emphasized opposition to uncontrolled renewable energy expansion in rural areas.
“We want to see more renewables in the system, but not at any cost, and certainly not at the cost of our regional rural communities that are now being blanketed in solar farms that are taking up arable land and transmission towers that are causing more environmental damage potentially than they are doing good,” she said.
Credible Climate Policy Debate
When pressed on what constitutes a credible climate policy without specific targets, Hume acknowledged the complexity facing party members.
“More than 50% of the Australian population have said that a credible climate policy is a euphemism for net zero,” Hume said. “They want to see the coalition stick with a net zero target, but not at any cost.”
The senator defended the lack of independent modeling for the party’s alternative approach, arguing that detailed policy implementation can only occur from government.
“The only way you’re going to bring down electricity prices is if you change your pathway to lowering emissions,” Hume said. “That we can do, but we can only do that from government.”
Hume acknowledged that dropping net zero language would not immediately reduce electricity costs.
“We know that dropping net zero, should the party room decide that it wanted to ditch the phrase net zero today, that’s not going to bring down electricity prices immediately, and Australians should know that,” she said.
Business Community Concerns
When questioned about abandoning hundreds of Australian businesses and corporations that have operated under the assumption of bipartisan net zero support, Hume dismissed the concern.
“I think this is a nonsense because even the National Party have said that they want to stay in the Paris Agreement and meet their international obligations,” Hume said. “Now, to be honest, that is part of the net zero journey.”
The senator noted the Paris Agreement aims to maintain global temperature rises between 1% and 2% by 2050, making net zero objectives inherent to that commitment.
Independent MP Counters Liberal Position
Independent MP Zali Steggall, representing the Sydney electorate of Warringah, challenged the Liberal Party’s framing during the same Sky News program, arguing that climate action and economic stability are compatible.
“Every time we replace coal-fired or gas, any fossil fuel energy with clean energy, that is a step in the right direction,” Steggall said.
Steggall cited polling from Farmers for Climate Action showing 70% of communities impacted by large-scale renewable projects support the developments because they provide secondary revenue streams for agricultural properties.
“They are able to get a second revenue stream that ensures the viability of their farms for generations to come,” Steggall said. “Of course, the consultation is important. Of course, communities must be on board.”
The independent MP said property owners can earn up to $40,000 annually in license fees per wind turbine, helping maintain farm viability during droughts or productivity downturns.
Polling Shows Division
Recent polling from Resolve shows complex public attitudes toward net zero commitments. While 31% support dropping the target entirely, analysis of the data reveals two-thirds of respondents back some form of net zero commitment when combining those who support it as a binding target with those who favor it as an aspiration.
“The result of that says that two-thirds of those polls support net zero,” Steggall said when discussing the figures. “That means an overwhelmingly majority supporter.”
Additional polling from the Climate Council shows 77% of Australians support strong climate action and express concern about climate change, according to Steggall.
Hume acknowledged the complexity of polling interpretation, saying “everyone looks for their own facts, really, to support their argument.”
Regional Versus Urban Divide
The debate exposed tensions between regional and urban electorates over renewable energy infrastructure placement. Hume argued large-scale renewable projects disproportionately affect rural communities, while Steggall defended the economic benefits for regional property owners.
“There’s a push to try and vilify urban electorates for not having large-scale” renewable infrastructure, one participant noted during the exchange.
Steggall rejected the characterization, emphasizing urban communities have responsibilities for their own energy transition through rooftop solar, electric vehicles and battery adoption.
“I absolutely appreciate the challenge it is for regional communities,” Steggall said, “and it is because there’s so much misinformation around what is happening.”
The independent MP warned that attempts to divide communities over renewable energy placement serve no productive purpose.
“The difficulty is there’s a lot of misinformation trying to divide communities for political advantage,” Steggall said. “And that is to no one’s advantage.”
Global Context and Temperature Targets
Steggall emphasized the urgency of climate action by citing current global temperature trajectories.
“We need to worry the price agreement is 1.5 degrees and we’re not going to meet that,” Steggall said. “We’re going to exceed that. We’re currently on a trajectory of 2.7 degrees and that means massive disruption to our way of life, economy and communities.”
When challenged about the limited impact of Australian emissions reductions compared to major emitters like China and the United States, Steggall defended China’s renewable energy expansion.
“China, in fact, peaked their emissions early and have started decreasing,” Steggall said, noting the country is “rolling out more renewables than any other nation combined.”
Steggall acknowledged China continues building coal-fired power stations but argued the scale of Chinese renewable investment drives down global prices for technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.
“The scale at which they are doing electric vehicles and renewable energy means the price globally comes down for everyone because of the scale on which they’re doing it,” she said. “So we do ultimately benefit from that.”
Youth Voter Concerns
Steggall closed by emphasizing the political importance of younger voters’ climate concerns.
“Ultimately, future generations and younger voters are really worried about this,” Steggall said. “And I think that is probably the demographic we need to be mindful of.”
The Liberal Party’s net zero deliberations continue through the week, with the final position expected to crystallize before lawmakers return to their home electorates. Party leader Susan Lee faces pressure to navigate the internal divisions while maintaining electoral credibility on climate and energy policy ahead of the next federal election.
The outcome will determine whether Australia’s major opposition party maintains alignment with international climate commitments or charts a distinct path prioritizing domestic energy costs over global emissions targets.
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