In a dramatic shift, the federal Liberal Party has officially abandoned its policy of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while committing to remain part of the Paris Agreement and acknowledging a carbon-neutral future as a “welcome outcome.”
The decision follows an intense five-hour meeting of the full shadow ministry on Wednesday, in which more than half of the 49-person group, including senior frontbenchers such as Ted O’Brien, Michaelia Cash, Angus Taylor, Alex Hawke, Melissa McIntosh, James Paterson, and Andrew Wallace, advocated for the policy’s removal.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and shadow energy spokesman Dan Tehan are expected to address the media following the formal announcement. The party’s stance now allows moderate members to express that reaching a carbon-neutral future would be desirable, without committing to enforceable government mechanisms, taxes, or mandates. Seventeen members, including Anne Ruston, Andrew Bragg, Dave Sharma, and Tim Wilson, opposed the abandonment, while four abstained.
The decision has intensified divisions within the party. The right-wing faction staged a coordinated presence at Wednesday’s party room meeting, with leadership aspirants Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie flanking the group, signaling their strength. Moderates expressed frustration, claiming they felt abandoned by the leadership, while others accepted the compromise, noting that Australia will still submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris framework.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized the Coalition for appearing divided, calling the event a “clown show” and highlighting the internal discord as a warning to Australians. Meanwhile, independent MP Sophie Scamps condemned the Liberals for abandoning climate leadership, arguing the backdown reflected a party beholden to the Nationals and fossil fuel interests, lacking conviction on one of the defining issues of our time.
The Liberal Party now faces the task of presenting a unified Coalition position. Senior Liberal and Nationals members are scheduled to negotiate the joint policy ahead of a full Coalition party room meeting on Sunday, aiming to reconcile internal divisions and define their strategy for climate and energy policy leading into the next federal election.
