Coalition MPs will stay in parliament an extra day next week to debate everyone’s views on net zero. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
As the Coalition zeroes in on deciding its net zero position, a joint partyroom debate has been scheduled for Friday (31 October), following next week’s parliamentary sitting days.
Liberals and Nationals have been asked to stay back in Canberra another day for a three-hour all-in, over exactly what energy policy the Opposition will be taking to the next federal election.
The meeting is being convened by the Coalition’s economic policy committee.
Whether to maintain support for the legislated net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or dump it is tearing the Coalition apart. Shadow ministers are quitting the front bench to speak out more freely, and both Liberals and Nationals are hinting at leaving the party over the issue.
Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce is insistent that support for net zero should be dropped and has invited speculation that he will join One Nation for the next election campaign.
He has already stated he does not intend to contest the next election for the seat of New England, which he currently holds for the Nationals.
But he is far from the only conservative who wants to see the net-zero policy booted.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is trying to remain calm in the face of it all, promising the Coalition is almost, possibly, maybe at the point of deciding its energy policy.
“Barnaby Joyce is making his own decisions as any individual in the National Party is entitled to, and I leave that as a matter for the National Party,” Ms Ley said when asked about the looming crisis.
“You talk about net zero, that’s our energy policy. We’re developing it now. It’s happening continually.
“It’s being led by Dan Tehan, and it includes two fundamentals – that we have a policy that delivers a stable, reliable grid, and affordable energy for households and businesses.
“Critically, the sort of businesses we want to see in our resources sector and that we also play our role internationally in reducing emissions. That work is ongoing.”
The Opposition Leader hinted at next week’s meeting, suggesting there will be a wide spread of views aired.
She rejected suggestions that the party was taking too long to decide its position.
There was no indication, however, that the review and the internal party debate, which has been ongoing for five months now, was any closer to reaching a conclusion.
“We’re going back to Canberra next week, further experts will present, discussions will be had,” Ms Ley said.
“Every single member of my party room and the Nationals party room is involved in those discussions.
“People can suggest policies, and indeed I see that conjecture from time to time in the media [that support for net zero will be dropped], but our policy is under development as I said, and we’re including everyone and every view.
“It’s important that we get it right and most importantly, it’s got to be a policy that is unique for Australia’s national interest when it comes to the vital involvement that energy has in manufacturing in this country.”
Next week’s meeting isn’t intended to make a final decision; rather, it is to allow everyone who wants to air their views to have a say.
Interestingly, a diary clash will likely result in several Nationals being unable to stay in Canberra for the meeting.
While the meeting is set for three hours, the Opposition Leader says her party will take as much time as needed to decide its policy.
“We will get it right because we know how important energy is to the productivity of this nation,” she said.
“It’s been five months. The policy is ongoing and you will see it when we talk about it further. So I’m very comfortable with where we’re at in the development of that policy, but I also make the point that right now the energy policy of this country is being controlled by the Labor Party, and it is a disaster, and we will have a very strong alternative.”
Another Liberal Party source told Region there is great unrest over the time the party’s energy reviews are taking.
“Five months since the last election and we have nothing to tell Australians on the topic,” they said.
“That’s embarrassing when you think about it. And the longer it drags on, the more our infighting and dirty laundry get aired publicly.”
