A political storm is brewing in Western Australia after Liberal leader Basil Zempilas reversed his stance on net zero, sparking internal party conflict. Federal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has openly criticized the move, arguing the party should abandon its 2050 net zero target.
Hastie told ABC Radio Perth that the Liberals' commitment to net zero has not been properly challenged, despite taking the policy to the last two elections. He called for consistency, questioning why Australia exports large amounts of coal and gas while pursuing domestic emissions targets.
Senator Michaelia Cash echoed Hastie's call for principled debate, writing that standing on principle calmly and respectfully is how the party wins trust. However, Zempilas has supported the status quo, leading to accusations of disunity.
Veteran political journalist Peter Kennedy argued that debate is healthy and distinct from disunity, citing historical examples like the uranium debate in the Labor Party and John Howard's GST introduction. He warned that stifling debate leads to inferior policy.
The internal rift poses a major challenge for federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Zempilas as they work to rebuild their parties. The net zero debate is expected to continue as the party reviews its climate policy.
