Australian news and politics live: Ley says PM lied to Australians over energy prices, Liberals dump net zero

Several Liberals who argued in favour of retaining the net zero by 2050 target during yesterday’s party room meeting warned that dumping it would make the chances of the party winning back metropolitan seats from Labor and independents an even harder task.

The point was underscored by party director Andrew Hirst, who told MPs that most Australians saw “net zero” as a proxy for action on climate change.

This morning, independent Sophie Scamps – who won Mackellar from the Liberals in 2022 and increased her margin this year – said the decision “signals the death knell of the Liberal Party” and that was why voters were abandoning them.

“They’ve been led around by the nose by the likes of Barnaby Joyce and Gina Rinehart for way too long,” she said.

“We have been facing climate change, which is the issue of our era, and the Liberal Party and the Nats have failed to act now for 25 years.

“Not only have they failed to act, but they’ve also failed to lead and they’ve obstructed action on this.”

Anthony Albanese can’t tell Australians when they can expect to see lower household power bills, given experts keep telling them renewables are cheaper than coal and gas.

The Prime Minister instead argued that the failure to have a certain, set climate policy meant there hadn’t been the investment environment needed to replace ailing coal-fired power stations in a timely manner as they aged out of the system.

“What we’re dealing with here is the result of 10 years of Coalition denial and delay,” he said – not answering a question of when power bills would get cheaper.

“What we know is that renewables are the cheapest form of energy.

“We’re making sure that we back that up with batteries, and with gas as well, for firming capacity, and that is the way to deliver the path that Australia needs.”

Anthony Albanese has used his press conference in Sydney about the new Defence treaty he signed with Indonesia to take a swipe at the Liberals for their infighting on climate change.

“While I was with President Prabowo, of course, focused on delivering for Australians and delivering on our national interests, the Liberals were conducting the first of four meetings in Canberra focused on themselves and each other,” he said.

“The Coalition are choosing to take Australia backwards. They’re walking away from jobs for Australians and investment certainty for business.”

The Prime Minister called the Opposition a “divided rabble” and said walking away from net zero would diminish Australia’s standing in the region.

Day two of the Liberals’ internal machinations over climate and energy policy dawns with the Liberal members of the shadow ministry about to enter a meeting to decide the formal policy.

This is expected to be significantly shorter than yesterday’s four-and-three-quarter-hour marathon.

Shadow minister Dan Tehan told media last night he anticipated by midday Eastern time today we’d know what the policy was.

He also flagged that he had a long night ahead of him to finish writing his proposal for colleagues, taking into account what was said during Wednesday’s party room meeting.

Shadow ministers heading into their gathering this morning were yet to see the submission.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan made history on Thursday, signing Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people.

The bill had already passed through the State Parliament, with the signing this morning officially bringing it into law.

The Victoria Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 formalises the establishment of a treaty between First Nations people and the State Government, and creates a new body for representation on First Nations matters.

A First Peoples’ Assembly will represent First Nations people in Parliament through a democratic elected process.