Overview
- Liberals and Nationals endorsed a joint platform that scraps long‑term emissions targets, keeps coal plants from closing early, lifts the nuclear ban, expands gas development and allows government underwriting on a technology‑neutral basis.
- Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Australia would stay in the Paris Agreement but will not set opposition targets or submit short‑term NDCs until in government, with emissions efforts benchmarked to OECD performance.
- A RedBridge–AFR poll shows Labor ahead 56–44 on two‑party terms, the Coalition’s primary vote at 24% and One Nation rising to 18%, with Ley’s net approval at minus 21.
- Internal tensions persist as conservatives consolidate influence through figures such as Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor, moderates urge members not to quit the party and no frontbench resignations have occurred.
- Ley ruled out funding new coal‑fired power stations while backing support to keep existing plants operating, even as National Party MPs press for underwriting of new coal, and Labor leaders warn the policy shift will raise prices by undermining investment certainty.