Overview
- After a joint party room meeting, Sussan Ley and David Littleproud unveiled a technology‑neutral policy that abandons a net zero by 2050 commitment and says net zero would be a welcome outcome only if driven by technology and voluntary markets.
- The Coalition’s leaked submission details moves to strip emissions reduction from the Australian Energy Market Operator’s objectives, unwind Labor’s legislated 43% by 2030 target, and amend the Climate Change Act to refocus market rules on price, reliability and security.
- The policy backs an Affordable Electricity Scheme to support new and existing generation, seeks to prevent early coal closures, proposes lifting the nuclear ban, and commits to expanding gas supply through streamlined approvals, basin development and a potential east coast reservation.
- Ley said Australia would stay in the Paris Agreement but set no targets from opposition, with emissions cuts pegged to the real performance of OECD countries and assessed over five‑year NDC periods.
- Internal tensions flared over the prospect of subsidising coal, moderates voiced frustration, Labor and Penny Wong warned of investment and Pacific diplomacy costs, and fresh polling showed the Coalition trailing as conservatives push to shift next to immigration policy.