Labor seizes on Coalition’s net-zero backflip as climate battle heats up

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley insists her party’s decision to ditch Australia’s climate targets won’t affect its popularity in city seats, as progressive campaigners fundraise off the controversial move.

The Coalition plans to finalise its official climate policy in coming days, with the Liberals now committed to abandoning net zero by 2050 and other interim emissions-reduction goals if they win government.

Labor and Climate 200, which gives financial support to “teal” independent candidates, have already sent out fundraising emails off the back of the policy change more than two years out from the next federal election.

New and existing coal and gas plants would receive taxpayer subsidies under the plan put forward by the Liberals on Thursday, which the party claims will bring down power prices while still reducing carbon emissions over the long run.

Ms Ley said her proposal would would keep Australia in the Paris climate accord, a landmark agreement which the government signed when the coalition was last in power.

The agreement prohibits countries from watering down their commitments to reduce emissions, but Ms Ley appeared to not be concerned if her plan put Australia in breach of the deal.

“If there are reasons why people in Paris or in some United Nations organisation don’t like it, I can deal with that,” she said.

Asked how her new energy policy would help the coalition win back the capital-city seats it lost to teal independents at the last two elections, Ms Ley said power prices were a major concern for all voters.

“Let’s not misunderstand what climate action is,” she said.

“If people think that this Government’s approach to so-called climate action is working, then they should have a really good look at it, because it’s actually not bringing emissions down.”

Progressive political campaigners wasted no time in blasting out fundraising emails off the back of the policy shift.

“If the Libs want to make fringe views their official policy, community independents will continue to rise and relegate them to the fringes,” Climate 200 executive director Byron Fay wrote.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen accused the Liberals of abandoning action on climate change in an email subject-lined “this is what we’re up against”, with options to join Labor or donate at the bottom of the message.

While, former Liberal MP and moderate Fiona Martin said it was a “sad day” for the Liberal Party.

“Just because you don’t think you can’t reach a target doesn’t mean you abandon it. The Liberals once led for the future, today they took us backwards,” Ms Martin told AAP.

Now the Liberals have landed on an official policy, they need to negotiate with the Nationals, who unanimously agreed to ditch net zero earlier in November.

Three representatives from each party will meet in coming days to formulate a joint Coalition policy, which is expected to be rubber-stamped at a virtual meeting on Sunday.