Coalition members are preparing for a showdown over net zero as pressure mounts on opposition Sussan Ley to settle her position and there is speculation more MPs could join her. Barnaby Joyce in the output if the policy is not reset.
Liberal and National MPs have been asked to remain in Canberra after the upcoming week of sittings for a three-hour closed-door debate on energy policy, including net zero by 2050.
Guardian Australia understands the majority of National Assembly MPs will not be able to attend next Friday due to the diary conflict.
The meeting is not intended to determine a final position, but rather to give MPs the opportunity to argue their case for or against maintaining the target, which was originally agreed under the leadership of Joyce and Scott Morrison in 2021.
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A growing number of opposition MPs are frustrated that the “threshold issue” of backing or resetting to net zero remains unresolved more than five months after the federal election defeat.
This issue is being examined in two internal reviews; one led by shadow energy secretary Dan Tehan, as well as a separate Nationals investigation.
Nationals review co-authored by anti-net zero campaigner Matt Canavan reportedly to be completed before Christmas and would likely result in the party abandoning its commitment to achieving the goal.
It would seem that this makes it impossible Coalition maintain net zero even if the Liberals want it, given Ley needs citizen support to push policy through the shadow cabinet.
Canavan's office declined to comment on the Nationals' nil investigation.
Senior Liberals believe a net zero policy – with caveats – could appeal both to citizens fighting One Nation and to metropolitan Liberals trying to regain a foothold in capital cities.
” [review] process was important after our election defeat, but there is a growing feeling that we must decide [net zero] sooner rather than later,” said Liberal senator and net zero advocate Andrew McLachlan.
“The community wants us to have a strong and credible response to climate change.”
Member of the National Assembly and former leader Michael McCormack told Guardian Australia it was “pretty clear where the citizens will go” – a reference to his expectation that the country party would abandon the policy.
McCormack said that while it was reasonable for the opposition to take its time developing policy, the sooner the zero-sum issue was resolved the better.
“We're bleeding now and it looks very, very untidy,” he said.
According to an invitation issued on Friday, Tehan will attend next Friday's meeting, which will last three hours and give each MP the opportunity to express their views on climate and energy policy.
“To attend this meeting, you will be required to remain in Canberra on Friday to listen to the views of your colleagues, as well as to share your own,” the invitation said.
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The meeting is organized by the Coalition's economic policy committee, whose conveners Jane Hume and Simon Kennedy support net zero.
Joyce cited the Nationals' current pro-net zero stance among the reasons he left the party, as well as the irreparable breakdown of his relationship with the leader. David Littleproud.
On Monday, the former deputy prime minister confirmed he had spoken to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson but said “nothing is certain” amid rumors he is ready to defect to the far-right party, possibly to stand for the Senate at the next election.
Hanson's office declined to comment when contacted Monday.
An Australian reported this. National Party MP Lew O'Brien – a close ally of Joyce – will also consider leaving the party if the country party recommits to net zero.
Canavan, another longtime Joyce ally, ruled out switching parties.
“For me it's Nats or Bust. I will continue to fight hard against the scam that is zero, but I will not join any other party,” Canavan wrote on social media.
Liberal MP Garth Hamilton, who is among many Liberals publicly opposing net zero, said he would not leave even if the Coalition recommitted itself to the principle.
“I’m staying in the tent,” he said. “[But] I believe my argument will prevail.”
Another Liberal MP, who expects the coalition to eventually agree to a net zero policy “with conditions”, said the Opposition did not need to rush to a position.
“We lack trust at the moment. We need to restore that trust by highlighting the weaknesses in the government's approach. When people see this, they will be more open to an alternative,” the MP said.
