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A more than three-hour long meeting of Liberal backbench MPs to debate energy and net zero policies has wrapped up in Canberra, with frontbencher Dan Tehan declaring a pathway forward is possible.

Over two dozen Liberal backbenchers attended the meeting with the shadow energy and emissions reduction minister, but Nationals MPs did not participate as they prepare for a federal council this weekend where similar debates will be held.

“There is a pathway, I think, to bring us all together in a way that unifies us all now, exactly what that looks like we are still working through,” Dan Tehan told reporters when asked if agreement could eventually be reached on net zero.

“And although you’d love me to make announcements here today, and I know you’d love me to be able to announce the policies today, I’m not going to do this.”

Opposition backbench MPs are locked in closed door discussions at Parliament House about the Coalition’s future position on net zero and energy policy.

Nationals MPs are not attending the gathering as they prepare for a federal council this weekend where similar debates will be held on net zero with party members.

“This is not going to be a day where we come to resolutions,” Liberal Senator Jane Hume said ahead of the backbench meeting on Friday morning.

“There’s not going to be a vote at the end of the day. It’s literally about letting people express their opinions in a safe way in a room where they feel trusted and listened to by your colleagues.”

Western Australian Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan said he was looking forward to a good discussion and expressed hope the Coalition would dump its current support for net zero.

Coalition backbenchers will voice their concerns over a lack of progress on the party’s energy policy at a joint meeting at Parliament House.

Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan has been criss-crossing the globe as he leads a roots-and-all review of the Coalition’s policy, including its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, following its disastrous election defeat in May.

But as the months have dragged on with no word of an updated policy position, backbenchers have begun to get itchy feet about a perceived lack of progress.

Calls are growing internally for the party to quickly come to a position, from both supporters and critics of net zero.

On Friday, Mr Tehan will hear the views of backbenchers who requested a meeting to be given a chance to contribute to the policy process.

Australia’s first treaty legislation has been passed, marking a historic milestone following a late-night parliamentary debate.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the bill would be signed by the State Government and First Peoples’ Assembly in coming weeks.

“Treaty gives Aboriginal communities the power to shape the policies and services that affect their lives,” she said.

Under the treaty bill, the state’s Indigenous representative body will be made permanent and granted expanded powers.

It will act as a voice to State Parliament that the Government must consult on laws and policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians.

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