Minister for Trade Dan Tehan at a press conference to launch Australia’s Nation Brand and tagline at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 18, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
After a five-hour meeting in Canberra, the Liberal Party is signaling it may abandon net-zero emissions by 2050 when it announces its position on Nov. 13.
Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan said the shadow cabinet would settle recommendations before a full Coalition meeting on Nov. 15, committing to make a formal announcement by “midday tomorrow.”
Tehan described the internal debate as “very passionate” but said members had united around two guiding priorities: energy affordability and reliability.
“The foundation principles were very clear that energy affordability must come first and must be the focus, along with reliability,” he said.
“And then the second principle is that we have to be serious when it comes to addressing emissions reduction.”
Despite the intense debate, he said everyone agreed by saying that they had to come together.
McIntosh Hints at Party Mood
Western Sydney MP Melissa McIntosh offered the clearest public clue yet about where the Liberals are heading—implying without directly confirming that a majority of MPs favoured dropping the net-zero commitment.
McIntosh was asked on ABC whether the party had voted to abandon the target. She declined to say but noted there was “a real consistency in the room,” stressing that cost-of-living pressures dominated the discussion.
“I certainly stood up for my community, and it’s not about climate ideology. People are really suffering,” she said.
Pressed further, McIntosh hinted that aligning with the Nationals, who recently withdrew from the 2050 goal, would be a positive outcome.
“So staying with the Nationals would be a really good outcome for us,” she added.
McIntosh said the final decision would follow internal consultations.
“I can’t declare a final position yet, but there were very much consistencies in the room,” she said.
