Liberal Shadow Minister Backs Ley as Leader, Pledges Party Unity on Climate Policy
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Shadow Defense Minister Angus Taylor declared Tuesday that Opposition Leader Susan Ley is safe in her job and will lead the Liberal Party to the next election, seeking to quash leadership speculation triggered by a dinner meeting with colleagues that generated headlines across Australian media.
Taylor told Sky News Australia that Ley will “continue on to get through this issue and take us to the next election,” offering his first public endorsement of her leadership amid internal party divisions over climate policy that have fueled questions about her political future.
“I support her as a leader, as you know,” Taylor said when asked directly whether Ley’s position is secure.
The comments came as Taylor outlined his vision for achieving Liberal Party unity on net zero emissions targets, saying he believes the party can reach a “unified position” despite deep splits between moderate and conservative MPs over Australia’s climate commitments.
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Dinner Sparks Leadership Speculation
Taylor addressed questions about a recent dinner with Shadow Defense Minister Andrew Hastie that triggered media reports suggesting possible leadership maneuvering within Coalition ranks. The shadow minister downplayed the significance of the gathering while acknowledging a “significant group” attended.
“That’s a dinner that I have regularly in multiple places,” Taylor said. “I love a green curry, though. I do love a good green curry with a bit of spice to it.”
He said conversations with colleagues happen constantly across multiple topics as the party works to hold Labor accountable on energy prices, economic management and other policy areas.
“We’ve got lots to talk through,” Taylor said. “And it’s incredibly important we do that, debate the issues that we’ve got to work on, and most of all, debate how we are going to beat a bad Labor Party at a time when we are seeing them drive up energy prices.”
Technology Over Taxes Approach
Taylor laid out the Liberal Party’s emerging consensus on climate policy, emphasizing emissions reduction through technology deployment and consumer choice rather than government mandates or carbon pricing.
“I think what we’ve got is a very strong unified view across the party that we need to bring down emissions as fast and as far as we can using technology and choice, not taxes, not big heavy-handed government regulation and subsidies,” Taylor said.
The shadow minister attacked Labor’s climate plan, claiming it can only be achieved by imposing a massive carbon tax on the economy that would exceed former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s controversial carbon pricing scheme by more than 10 times.
“Labor has told us that their own plan can only be achieved by imposing a massive carbon tax on the economy, over 10 times Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, almost $300 a tonne,” Taylor said. “And that’s a disaster for Australians. It’ll drive up the price of electricity, the price of food, the price of building materials, the price of cars.”
He said the Coalition must deliver emissions reductions “in a way that’s not going to be destructive to our economy and that’s going to be achievable.”
Paris Agreement Position
Taylor noted the National Party has signaled its intention to remain in the Paris Agreement on climate change, providing what he called “a very strong signal” about the Coalition’s likely position on international climate frameworks.
“The National Party have said that they want to stay in the Paris Agreement,” Taylor said. “We’re still working through our position, but I think that’s a very strong signal and answer to your question from them.”
The comments suggest the Liberal Party is moving toward alignment with its junior Coalition partner on maintaining Australia’s participation in the Paris climate accord, potentially defusing one source of internal tension over climate policy.
Attack on Bowen’s Energy Record
Taylor launched sharp criticism of Energy and Climate Minister Chris Bowen, contrasting his own ministerial record with the current government’s performance on electricity prices and emissions reduction.
“When I was Minister, we brought down prices by 10% and emissions by 10%,” Taylor said. “Since Chris Bowen has been Minister, emissions have barely moved and prices have skyrocketed. This is a disaster for Australians.”
He accused Bowen of misunderstanding energy policy fundamentals and relying too heavily on government intervention rather than market mechanisms and technological innovation.
“He thinks big government is the answer to everything, and that approach is failing Australians,” Taylor said.
The shadow minister criticized Bowen’s handling of the Kurri Kurri gas generator project, saying the minister initially opposed the facility before realizing it was necessary, then planned to use green hydrogen before abandoning that approach.
“This guy hasn’t got a clue. He really doesn’t,” Taylor said.
Gas Exploration Support
Taylor threw his support behind expanding gas exploration and production across Australia, backing the New South Wales government’s pursuit of the Narrabri gas project and calling for development in additional regions.
“I absolutely do” support Narrabri and more gas exploration in New South Wales, Taylor said. “In fact, I was the minister when we managed to convince the last New South Wales government, the Liberal government, to approve the Narrabri resources.”
He identified multiple gas development opportunities beyond Narrabri that could boost supply and reduce energy prices.
“I spent a lot of time up in the Beetaloo,” Taylor said, referring to the Northern Territory gas basin. “We’ve got to get that moving. We’ve got to make sure we get the most out of the Surat Basin. I think there’s more potential down in Victoria, certainly offshore, and if this government ever got its act together in Victoria, onshore as well.”
Taylor said expanding gas production would simultaneously reduce prices and lower emissions, describing gas as a proven technology Labor has failed to embrace while betting on unproven alternatives like green hydrogen.
Coal’s Continuing Role
The shadow minister said coal will continue playing a major role in Australia’s electricity grid for many years, citing Labor state governments quietly extending coal plant operations despite public rhetoric about phasing out the fuel.
“Even the states, you know, these are Labor states, very left-wing Labor states like Victoria. They talk a big game on how coal’s got to go,” Taylor said. “And you know what? Quietly, in a back room, they’re doing very expensive deals where they’re held to ransom because they’re doing it all in a back room to keep coal-fired power stations going.”
When asked whether investors would build new coal plants, Taylor said existing coal facilities must be maintained and utilized fully before any closures.
“We’ve got a lot of coal already in the system, and we need to sweat those assets, make the most of them, and make sure we don’t ever take them out without a replacement,” Taylor said.
He emphasized his ministerial focus on preventing premature coal plant closures without replacement capacity, contrasting his approach with what he described as Labor’s haphazard energy planning.
Economic Warning
Taylor painted a dire picture of Australia’s economic trajectory under Labor, warning the country faces stagflation combining rising inflation with increasing unemployment.
“We’re looking down the barrel of stagflation, rising inflation and of course rising unemployment at the same time, which is the worst of all possible worlds,” Taylor said.
He said interest rates are not declining as expected and described the economy as “sclerotic,” arguing Labor’s policies are failing to deliver affordable energy or sustainable economic growth.
The shadow minister positioned Opposition engagement on these issues as essential accountability work rather than internal party maneuvering.
“We’re going to keep talking about these things and making sure that we’re in a position, which we need to be, to hold a bad Labor government to account,” Taylor said.
Technology Pathway Forward
Taylor expressed confidence the Coalition can develop a comprehensive energy policy balancing emissions reduction with economic sustainability by deploying the “full suite of technologies” rather than relying on government mandates.
“There is a pathway forward here,” Taylor said. “It’s using the full suite of technologies. It is, as you say, getting more supply into the system.”
He said this approach can deliver outcomes Australians want: “affordable, reliable energy as we bring emissions down at a responsible rate in line with our peers.”
The shadow minister framed his position as consistent with longstanding views rather than a new political posture, saying he has “long believed in this approach” of technology deployment over taxation.
“In fact, you know, we went down the technology, not taxes pathway a number of years ago, it is still the right answer,” Taylor said.
Green Hydrogen Criticism
Taylor criticized Labor’s investment in green hydrogen technology as a failed bet that has delivered poor results compared to established approaches.
“Labor put all its money on green hydrogen, not going very well,” Taylor said.
He contrasted green hydrogen with existing hydrogen production methods used in fertilizer manufacturing, describing these as “proven technologies” Labor has ruled out despite their effectiveness.
Taylor said Labor’s unwillingness to embrace proven solutions reflects the government’s ideological commitment to its preferred technologies over pragmatic approaches that could deliver faster emissions reductions at lower cost.
Party Unity Emphasis
Throughout the interview, Taylor emphasized the Liberal Party’s capacity to reach agreement on difficult policy questions despite internal diversity of views.
“I really do believe we” can achieve unity on net zero policy, Taylor said, describing climate and energy as “a difficult issue not just for us in the Liberal Party” but for all Australians affected by current policies.
He framed party discussions as focused on substantive policy development rather than leadership questions, saying colleagues constantly debate how to deliver better outcomes for Australians struggling with rising costs.
The shadow minister’s public backing of Ley’s leadership and confident predictions about policy unity aim to project stability as the Coalition prepares for the next federal election.
Taylor’s comments suggest Liberal Party strategists believe they can turn energy policy from a source of internal division into a political advantage by attacking Labor’s record on electricity prices while developing what they describe as a more balanced approach to emissions reduction.
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