Andrew Hastie says he would quit the shadow frontbench if the Liberals remain committed to a net zero by 2050 policy, spelling more trouble for Sussan Ley as the opposition leader tries to steady a rocky ship.
The shadow home affairs minister and Western Australian MP claimed on Monday night that the Albanese government’s target to reduce emissions to net zero on 2005 levels by 2050 is being done in “the name of climate alarmism”.
Hastie’s warning in an appearance on ABC Radio Perth follows the sacking of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the shadow ministry last week after she declined to publicly support Ley or apologise for suggesting the federal government’s migration program favoured Indians to win Labor votes.
Hastie is part of a growing number of Coalition MPs to speak out against net zero and has previously described the government’s commitment to cleaner energy as “moral hypocrisy” and a “scam”.
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When asked what he would do if the Liberals decided to keep the policy after its post-election review, the Canning MP said it would leave him “without a job”.
Hastie told the ABC Radio Perth presenter Gary Adshead: “I’ve nailed my colours to the mast … Like if I go out with the tide in two-and-a-half years, that’s great, you know, I’ll get a lot more time with my kids back.
“My primary mission in politics is to build a stronger, more secure, more competitive Australia. Energy security is a vital input to that.”
The Liberals are undergoing a review of all policies after a disastrous electoral defeat in May but the party’s policy on climate and energy are among the most contentious.
Hastie said he hadn’t spoken to the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, about his position but that “everyone is whispering that anyway” so he may as well make his position clear.
He said: “I went on Four Corners, and I said the net zero policy is a straitjacket for our economy and our country, and I believe that. I’m actually quite passionate about it.”
Hastie’s comments followed the release of the national climate risk assessment on Monday, which revealed a detailed picture of the severe and far-reaching social and economic consequences of the climate crisis for Australia.
The assessment modelled the impact of climate-related hazards such as heatwaves, drought and floods on different parts of the community, economy and environment under three global heating scenarios: above 1.5C, above 2C and above 3C.
Under the 3C scenario, it found the number of heat-related deaths in Sydney would increase by 444% and by 423% in Darwin.
On Sunday, the Victorian Liberal division voted to abandon Australia’s net zero targets, adding to a growing list of Liberal state divisions opposed to the emissions reduction policy, including South Australia and Western Australia, as well as Queensland’s Liberal National Party.
The former Morrison government brokered a deal with its junior Coalition party, then led by Joyce, in 2021 to support net zero by 2050. Joyce has since joined with Nationals colleagues, Matt Canavan and Michael McCormack, in vehement opposition to net zero targets.
The Albanese government is expected to announce its 2035 target before the UN climate change conference, or Cop30, in November.
Australia has legislated a 2030 target to reduce emissions by 43% compared with 2005 levels as part of its pathway to net zero by 2050.
