Liberal Party formally abandons net zero by 2050 climate target

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Liberal Party has dumped its commitment to net zero marking a U-turn for the party and a break in bipartisanship on the long term climate target. Sussan Ley has instead put energy affordability in focus offering a guarantee that power prices will be lower under a coalition government.

Transcript

00:00Two marathon meetings over two loaded words.

00:06Susan Lee up front, but led by her party room.

00:10We are not pursuing net zero, we are pursuing energy affordability.

00:14The Liberal Party are resolving to stay in the Paris climate agreement

00:17and set the five yearly emissions reduction targets as required.

00:21Net zero is gone, but...

00:24Net zero would be welcome if we can get there.

00:28In a passive position, a nod to moderates who lost the net zero argument.

00:32We were always going to have to come to a compromise,

00:35but I'm obviously delighted that we're remaining in Paris.

00:38The Nationals delighted the Liberals have followed their lead.

00:41That in many way mirrors what the National Party was able to articulate last Sunday.

00:46With net zero settled, the opposition's turned the fight to power prices,

00:51promising an era of energy abundance,

00:54including the possibility of taxpayers underwriting new coal and gas-fired power plants.

01:00I can 100% guarantee that energy prices, power bills will be lower under us.

01:06How and when, she won't say.

01:08They look like a bunch of nutters.

01:11Clowns show that they've become.

01:13Have no doubt the coalition approach would hurt Australians.

01:17Her own MPs worry it'll hurt their party's prospects.

01:22What do you say to your colleagues who believe that scrapping net zero will be electorally advantageous?

01:30You're wrong.

01:32What more can I say? I try to argue the case.

01:35The Liberals have been led to this position by their junior partner, the Nationals.

01:39And in doing so, Susan Lee has bought herself some more time.

01:43But contradictions and questions abound,

01:46including whether the party's new approach is even compatible with the Paris Climate Pact.

01:52If there are reasons why people in Paris or in some United Nations organisation don't like it, I can deal with that.

01:59Dealing with one problem at a time.

02:02of course the issue was a�.

02:06No problem at a time.

02:08No problem at a time.

02:10He couldn't believe that anyone has their own country.

02:12I can't believe it, I mean, to live in a country.

02:14I can't believe it, I mean, to live in a country,

02:16but it's just a very good country.

02:18You can't believe it that I have done in a country.

02:20You can have a country, and you know,

02:22I can't believe it, you know,

02:24it's a country where you're not going away,

02:26but everything is not being there.

02:28It's a country that you want to have,

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