Shadow affairs minister Andrew Hastie has indicated he may resign or be removed from the frontbench if Opposition Leader Sussan Ley continues to support the net-zero emissions target. This stance comes as Ley is reassessing the party’s climate policy following a significant defeat in the May federal election, where previous leader Peter Dutton pushed for a contentious proposal to establish seven nuclear reactors across Australia.
Hastie, who opposes the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, expressed on ABC Radio Perth that he would consider leaving his position should the party’s direction conflict with his views. “That leaves me without a job,” he stated, emphasising the importance of energy security as a core issue in his political agenda. “I have nailed my colours to the mast,” he asserted, further emphasising his commitment to building a more secure and competitive Australia.
Coinciding with these political tensions, the Albanese government has recently released the inaugural National Climate Risk Assessment, which forecasts severe implications of climate change affecting millions of Australians. The report warns that by 2050, around 1.5 million people might be at risk from rising sea levels, and a projected 2.9-degree temperature increase by 2030 could lead to a staggering 444% rise in heatwave-related fatalities.
In the backdrop of these discussions, the federal Labor government will announce its interim emissions reduction target for 2035. Meanwhile, the opposition has yet to finalise its climate policy. Ley has faced internal challenges as well, having stated that Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price fell short of the high standards expected in her shadow ministry, which Hastie claims necessitates her demotion for failing to back Ley’s leadership.
Hastie has confirmed that Ley has his support, adding, “I wouldn’t be here speaking with you as the shadow minister for home affairs” if that were not the case. As these dynamics unfold, the future direction of the party’s climate policy remains uncertain, and with Hastie’s firm stance against the net-zero target, the party may face significant internal strife.