Western Australia's Federal Liberal contingent has launched a decisive push to scrap Australia's net zero emissions target, placing further pressure on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's already embattled leadership.
Key Figures Demand Policy Overhaul
Senior WA Liberals including Senators Michaelia Cash and Matt O'Sullivan, along with lower house MP Ben Small, publicly called for the complete abandonment of net zero on Saturday. They're expected to be joined by colleagues Andrew Hastie, Rick Wilson and Slade Brockman at Wednesday's crucial party room meeting.
Even Ms Ley's key WA supporter, Durack MP Melissa Price, has demanded significant changes to the policy, advocating for what she terms a "reset" to make net zero more relevant to Australian circumstances.
The Core Argument Against Net Zero
The WA Liberals maintain they support emissions reduction in principle but argue Australia is moving too aggressively on renewables, driving power prices higher for households and businesses.
"We need to withdraw the net zero target and back what works," declared Senator Cash, the Opposition Leader in the Senate. "As technology proves it can cut emissions without driving up bills or threatening reliability, you can keep moving, step by practical step."
Senator O'Sullivan was equally unequivocal: "I'm advocating that we drop the net zero target altogether. Our priority needs to be ensuring Australia has cheap and reliable power."
Forrest MP Ben Small highlighted the disconnect between government promises and reality: "As much as we have been promised power prices are going down and down the bad reality is power prices are going up and up and show no signs of slowing down."
Leadership Pressure Intensifies
The internal division over the 2050 net zero commitment, combined with recent polling showing the coalition's primary vote dropping to a record-low 24 percent, has significantly increased pressure on Ms Ley's leadership.
Former prime minister John Howard has intervened, urging the party to "get behind" Ms Ley as political infighting threatens to end her tenure as Opposition Leader.
Despite the challenges, key supporters remain publicly loyal. Ms Price, one of only three WA Federal Liberals to vote for Ms Ley in May's leadership spill, maintained her support: "No one else could have got us this far with the net zero debate. She has been very professional and very calm."
Senator Cash confirmed: "Sussan Ley is the Liberal Party leader and has my support." Mr Small added he expected no leadership change this year, stating confidently: "Do I think Sussan Ley will be our leader on Christmas Day? Absolutely I do."
WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, a member of the Coalition's Energy Working Group, emphasised that regardless of the final position, the focus must remain on holding Labor accountable for energy policy failures driving up costs for Australians.
