There is an obvious frustration within the LNP regarding the federal team’s decision to sit around endlessly ‘listening’ on the topic of Net Zero.
Most voters assume the vast chasm of silence exists because the leadership are true believers in a renewable energy future. Better to say nothing than confirm the suspicion … or so goes the logic. Maybe they are hoping Labor will do the heavy lifting, pushing Australia so far down the Net Zero path that by the time the next election rolls around, it will be a fait accompli.
There is another word for this approach: gutless.
Yesterday, the Australian said, ‘Sussan Ley will be pressed to hold a joint partyroom debate on Coalition policy after Nationals Leader David Littleproud and the Queensland Liberal National Party became the latest party division to dump Net Zero.’
David Littleproud, Matt Canavan, Llew O’Brien, and Colin Boyce were involved in the vote.
There is a valid fear that the longer the leadership treads water on this critical topic, the deeper the damage to the LNP brand. If the Coalition isn’t careful, they’ll lose all believability in the energy debate.
While Leader Sussan Ley wants to ‘modernise’ and appeal to a ‘broader’ vote, many voters say this is not a good enough excuse to stand behind an energy policy that de-industrialises the nation for the economic benefit of foreign companies and international bureaucracies.
Perhaps this is why charismatic and principled members are leading votes in each state to show, just like the Voice to Parliament, what the majority want even if the powerful veneer at the top disagree.
MAP BREAK:
With the LNP voting against net zero, Liberal or Nationals state divisions have dumped net zero in Queensland, NSW, SA, WA and the NT.
Common sense is making a comeback. pic.twitter.com/QiHIR1FogO
— Senator Matt Canavan (@mattjcan) August 23, 2025
Senator Matt Canavan posted a map showing that Net Zero has been vanquished everywhere except Victoria, Tasmania, and Canberra.
The Senator wrote on X: ‘Yesterday the LNP voted to abandon Net Zero which is forcing way too much unreliable and environmentally destructive power into the grid, pushing up prices and threatening our jobs. It’s time to put Australian families, Australian businesses, and Australian jobs first.’
He also encouraged a ‘free and open debate in the joint partyroom’ when it comes to Net Zero.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price congratulated the Queensland LNP on their vote saying, ‘They join the Western Australian, South Australian, and Northern Territory Liberals. The tide is turning. Australia contributes just over 1 per cent of global emissions.’
Senator Price added:
‘Reaching Net Zero could cost a staggering $7-9 trillion, as estimated by independent experts.
‘Net Zero is an absurd policy that will impoverish and de-industrialise our nation to achieve an emissions reduction target that, in an Australian context, will not alter global temperatures one iota.
‘Net Zero is not just an energy policy that will cause your power bills to keep going up. It’s about the government dictating how you and your family should live, what you should drive, and what you should eat. It’s about telling businesses how to operate. It’s about restricting what our farmers can produce and what our manufacturers can make.
‘Net Zero is another mechanism for Labor to move Australia away from a free-market economy and towards a state-directed and controlled economy.
‘Net Zero is about reducing your freedom. It’s time we pushed back against this freedom-eroding nonsense.’
The only comment on X from Leader Sussan Ley about the Queensland conference was a photo with the comment:
‘Pleased to address the opening of this weekend’s LNPQLD Convention and be with so many of my fantastic Queensland colleagues. Aspiration is the thread that connects everyone and everything in this great state, from the Far North down to the South East.’
With the chaser, ‘We will always back those who have a go.’
Sussan Ley should write Hallmark cards.
It seems unconscionably weak that Ms Ley couldn’t bring herself to address the topic of Net Zero during her address.
According to the Australian, the closest she came was her ‘urban voters could not see themselves in today’s Liberal Party’ comment followed by something non-committal about modernising. ‘We must broaden our appeal. We must reflect the country we seek to govern.’
‘At the next election the Coalition will present a complete economic policy, not a grab bag of slogans, but a fully integrated plan that maintains the best of our current system while restoring balance and fairness. A fair and balanced economic policy drives productivity, supports viable businesses, attracts investment, encourages aspiration, and lifts living standards.’
What we’re hearing is a whole lot of silence from an Opposition who are supposed to be giving Labor hell every single day. Their absence from the discussion is actively harming Australia. Labor feels, justifiably, as if they have absolute freedom.
Someone needs to urgently tap Ms Ley on the shoulder and tell her that she is the Opposition Leader every day, not only in the run-up to the election.
The comments at the bottom of the article are telling, keeping in mind the audience of the Australian tends to lean into the Coalition’s core voting base.
‘Ley is naïve and cowardly in failing to drop Net Zero,’ said one. ‘Modernise? Please explain!’
It is not exactly clear what Ms Ley meant when she said, ‘The Australian people sent us a message, and we have heard it. We will not wimp out.’
What was the message? Where is the strong policy in response?
The only clue we have is from Shadow Treasurer and Deputy Leader Ted O’Brien who, speaking on Sky News Australia, said:
‘We all know Labor’s energy plan is seeing prices go up. We are seeing a record level of insolvencies with a lot of businesses saying they’re closing because they cannot afford energy. We are seeing more families now across Australia than we’ve ever seen in our history struggling on energy … I think the room is trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem to solve is not how do we accelerate Labor’s bad energy plan; the problem to solve is, how do we get Australians the cheapest energy possible? Of course, it has to be reliable. We have to make sure we’re decarbonising over time. But that question isn’t being asked.’
Those looking for an answer on the leadership’s Net Zero position appear to have it.
Flat White is written by Alexandra Marshall. If you would like to support her work, shout her a coffee over at donor-box.
