Latest news with #BridgetMcKenzie
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Sussan Ley wants to keep the Coalition together – but caving on net zero won't help her win back seats
After another scrappy week for the faltering Coalition, Bridget McKenzie on Thursday called for the National party to stop talking about itself. No sane observer of politics since the 3 May election could disagree, but the party's Senate leader made the observation in an awkward setting: a Sky News interview. While they were tearing up their alliance with the Liberals, then attempting a patch-up job with the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, senior Nationals appeared dozens of times on TV and radio. The immediate stakes are low. Labor just won a thumping majority and any return to government for the Coalition is unlikely before 2031, at the earliest. Whether the new frontbench survives or if the two parties can stick together at all remains an open question. But McKenzie and her party's leaders are doing their best to remind voters why the Coalition was so thoroughly rejected in the first place. Publicly and privately, the Nationals continue to fight over whether to hold fast to the goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. They agreed to that target in 2021, despite strong internal opposition. Those negotiations saw the party secure an additional spot in Scott Morrison's cabinet. But without strong leadership now, the support appears a lot less secure. Consider last Sunday alone. The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, appeared on Sky just after 8am. Asked whether net zero would remain a Nationals position, he said governments around the world were reconsidering. Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton's Clear Air column as an email Net zero by 2050 remained party policy for now, but Littleproud promised 'further discussions'. 'What the world is starting to understand is it's very difficult to get there, but we shouldn't give up on trying to reduce emissions,' he said. Less than an hour later, the deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, was on ABC TV. 'The Nationals support net zero [by] 2050,' he declared, stressing the policy was settled seven years ago and 'that's not up for review or being changed'. Within minutes, their Queensland colleague Matt Canavan was appearing on Sky, contradicting Hogan. 'There is a willingness to open this up. There's a question about when and how we do that,' he said. Canavan has even released animated videos styling himself as a 'dark Nat' out to fight net zero and the woke left. The former Nationals leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce both oppose net zero, with the latter calling it 'a great scam' this week. It's clear the Nationals are failing on net zero on style and substance. The pledge is the lowest common denominator of action to stem the damage being wrought by climate change, an emergency the CSIRO warns will deliver Australia increasing temperatures, declining rainfall, more drought and dangerous fire days, further sea level rises, species loss, more frequent and severe bleaching events in coral reefs, and increased natural disasters driven by wild weather. As well as deadly flooding in New South Wales in the past fortnight, a toxic microalgae bloom off the South Australian coast this month has seen sharks and other marine life washing up along popular beaches. Overseas, the Swiss village of Blatten was almost entirely destroyed this week when thousands of tonnes of mud and ice fell from a collapsing glacier. Research published on Friday in the journal Science found almost 40% of glaciers are already doomed to melt due to emissions from fossil fuels. Set to put millions of lives at risk and wreak havoc with food supplies, the melt would drop by 50% if the Paris climate agreement's target of limiting global heating to a 1.5C target can be achieved. But the more dangerous test of net zero credibility rests with Ley. The former environment minister was asked on Wednesday if net zero policies were under review within the wider Coalition. She said the discussion would take place behind closed doors, led by the newly appointed shadow energy and emissions minister, Dan Tehan. 'We have to play, as a country, our part in the global response to climate change. Net zero, Paris targets, gas, all of the resources, conversations around critical minerals, they're all part of that,' Ley said. Sign up to Clear Air Australia Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis after newsletter promotion 'We have to play our part, but we have to make sure that we don't do it at any cost.' Business and environment groups agree shifting to anything less than net zero will be bad for investment and economic growth. Such a move would leave the Liberals unelectable, particularly in the metropolitan areas it needs to win back. After just seeing off a teal challenger in her Mornington Peninsula seat of Flinders, the Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie quickly called for the party to hold firm on net zero. 'It is important for an electorate like mine where environment is very highly valued,' she said, noting the Liberals hold just eight of the 88 metropolitan electorates around the country. A fellow moderate, New South Wales senator Andrew Bragg, said the Liberals were looking at how Australia could best get to net zero and how the target could be 'deployed'. But the Western Australian frontbencher Andrew Hastie this week told the ABC net zero was 'a straitjacket that I'm already getting out of'. 'The real question is should Australian families and businesses be paying more for their electricity?' he said. Powerful forces in business and the media are pushing back against net zero, emboldened by Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris agreement. They could influence the whole Coalition via the back door of National party agitation. The head of this year's UN climate talks, Cop30, warned on Friday the world is facing a new form of climate denial, in the form of a concerted attack on the idea that the economy can be reorganised to fight the crisis. The veteran Brazilian diplomat André Corrêa do Lago said economic denialism will lead to the same dangerous outcomes as now discredited scientific denialism. Labor faces criticism of its own, after the environment minister, Murray Watt, this week approved an extension to Woodside's massive North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia out to 2070. Watt said he was signing off subject to 'strict conditions' relating to local air pollution. He also had to consider the potential impact on nearby ancient rock art, and economic and social matters. Climate change is not grounds to refuse or limit a development application under Australia's national environment law. The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, said the government was waving around net zero 'as a fig leaf' while putting the Great Barrier Reef at existential risk. Groups including the Australian Conservation Foundation say net zero by 2035 would give Australia the best shot at fairly contributing to efforts to limit global heating to below 1.5C. They argue cutting emissions by 71% by 2035, based on 2019 levels, should be the floor of federal ambition in Australia. Ley may have to hold the Nationals close to keep the Coalition together, but caving on net zero won't help her win back the more than 30 seats the Liberals have lost since Tony Abbott became prime minister. Tom McIlroy is Guardian Australia's chief political correspondent
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Senator McKenzie warns Victoria's machete crackdown ‘does nothing' as knife crime fuels safety fears across the state
Senator Bridget McKenzie has argued the Victorian government's retail machete ban won't improve public safety. The state is preparing to implement a statewide ban on the sale of machetes on Wednesday, with Premier Jacinta Allan confirming the interim prohibition will come into effect at midday. The interim ban, which Ms Allan confirmed applies to all "cutting-edge knives with a blade of more than 20cm", will continue until September 1, at which point the possession of machetes will then be permanently outlawed. With rising crime concerns, questions have been raised by the opposition about the state government's approach to keeping Victorians safe, given online sales of the weapons remain unregulated and a three-month wait remains until the possession ban kicks in. Senator Bridget McKenzie said the state government's retail ban will not improve safety for Victorians as the regulation does not impact online sales. "I don't think the Labor government's retail ban here in Victoria will actually make it safer, you can purchase it online,' she said on Sunrise. 'It does nothing about the existing stock that's already here, and a government's job is to keep their citizens safe. 'We know crime here in Victoria is a huge issue. The National Party got a swing to it from Labor in seats like Bendigo - the premier's hometown - because Victorians aren't feeling safe in their own home and their streets.' The Nationals Senator said the retail ban does not solve 'the broader issue'. Industry Minister Tim Ayres questioned whether it was appropriate for the federal government to intervene, suggesting that doing so would be an overstep. 'I see the Victorian government has moved on this question; we support that effort,' he said. 'It really is a matter for the states and territories, and for the Commonwealth to step in would be a very significant step here that I'm not sure is warranted." The Labor minister said 'the underlying point' is there is never a 'good reason for a young person to be carrying a weapon in a public place', pointing to the terrifying events at a Melbourne shopping centre on the weekend. "The Victorian government is acting here. It's a very clear direction to stores that from today, nobody may sell a machete in Victoria," he said.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Cabinet solidarity not taken to Nationals party room, Bridget McKenzie says
David Littleproud did not take an agreement to cabinet solidarity to the Nationals party room as part of reopening Coalition negotiations with the Liberals, Bridget McKenzie has declared. The Nationals sensationally split from the Liberal party last week, breaking up one of the most successful partnerships in Australian politics, and the parties have been in crisis talks ever since, with a reformation expected to be announced this week. Speaking on the state of play on Wednesday, the senior Nationals senator said her party room had agreed to re-enter talks after the Liberal Party conceded on four key policies the party previously refused to give a guarantee on. The four polices, which were central to the Nationals' campaign, included divestiture powers for supermarkets, nuclear power, its proposed $20bn regional Australia fund and greater telecommunications coverage. Senator McKenzie said a proposed agreement on cabinet solidarity — which means all shadow ministers would back positions of the Coalition regardless of personal views — was not presented to the Nationals party room. 'What was put to the party room and what the party room made its decision on was the four policy issues,' she told Seven on Wednesday. 'I was in the room. I know what the room made its decision on and it was the four policies, the mobile connectivity, divestiture of supermarkets, nuclear and obviously the regional futures fund.' Pressed on whether cabinet solidarity was included, Senator McKenzie said it 'wasn't put to the room'. When asked if the Nationals leader did not bring it to the party room at all after speaking with Sussan Ley, she said it was a matter of 'private conversations' between Mr Littleproud and the Liberal leader. 'I think you are going to have to talk to Sussan Ley and David Littleproud about their private conversations together as leaders,'Senator McKenzie said. 'I can only let you know what the room discussed. And what we made our decision on.' Senator McKenzie has been scathing of the Liberal Party since the federal election and fiercely supported her party's shock split from the Coalition last week.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
A senior Liberal says net zero should be reconsidered following the election wipe-out
A senior Liberal is calling for the party to reconsider the 'straitjacket' of net zero, weeks after the party's election disaster as push back comes from Nationals MPs. The commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 has long been a point of contention within conservative parties, and tensions continue to bubble within the Liberals over the promise and whether it aligns with the party's future. Opposition frontbencher Andrew Hastie – who has been touted as a future leader – says it's one policy that should be reconsidered. 'I think the question of net zero, that's a straitjacket that I'm already getting out of,' he told Four Corners on Monday night on the future of the party. 'The real question is should Australian families and businesses be paying more for their electricity? 'And should we allow this sort of hypocrisy at the heart of our economy to continue whereby we sell coal and gas to India and China, and we deny it to our own people? 'That's the question that I think we need to answer.' New Liberals leader Sussan Ley says the party will be reviewing all policies post the May 3 election wipe-out, including the commitment to nuclear energy while also trying to repair the Coalition blown-up by the Nationals last week. While negotiations on restoring the 80-year-old Coalition with the rural and regional-based party continues, several of their high-profile members are actively campaigning against net zero. Nationals senate leader Bridget McKenzie said the National were committed to net zero, but had been upset by Ms Ley's announcement to review all policies the Coalition had taken to the election without consultation. 'Our party position is that we are committed to net zero by 2050 until that's obviously reviewed and stays or doesn't stay,' she said. 'If you are serious about net zero, then you have to get serious about nuclear.' But Liberal Senator Maria Kovacic told 4 Corners nuclear should be dumped, but said net zero mattered to voters. 'Most young Australians believe that climate change is real and we have to deliver energy policies that ensure that we reach our net zero targets and that we deliver stable power … that is as cheap as possible' she said. Nationals leader David Littleproud has revealed the minor party will review its positions on such policies, saying a sensible energy mix was needed in Australia. 'We've got a party room position on this but obviously during this period of parliament, like in the last period, we'll continue to review some of those policies, including net zero,' he told Sky News. 'I think we've got to understand that the world is finding it increasingly more difficult to achieve net zero by 2050 and the serious economic impact.' High profile Nationals, including Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan, have been vocal in their calls for net zero to be dumped. Meanwhile, the Four Corners program canvassed a number of Liberals reflecting on what went so wrong with the campaign under former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who also lost his own seat on election night. Failure to outline policies or late announcements and too much focus on other issues failed to attract voters, MPs said. Tasmanian frontbencher Jonno Duniam said 'fatally flawed' polling was a significant issue. 'Something went off the rails,' he said. 'It's like having a compass telling you to go in one direction. In fact, you know you should be going in another. And that's what we did. We made decisions based on bad polling.' Education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said her education policy was 'buried' by the campaign. 'On Thursday night (before the election), the policy was uploaded onto the website … my media release was withdrawn and a lot of incredible hard work by my team and many others right across the Coalition, unfortunately, didn't see the light of day,' she said. She said too much attention was put on the cost of living during the campaign, and not enough on 'values-based' policies. Mr Hastie warned the Liberal Party's problems were so deep that without serious change, it may cease to exist. 'There's no reason to think that we won't disappear over time if we don't get our act together. That's how serious this challenge is for the Liberal Party,' Mr Hastie said.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal politics: Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie accuses Liberals of 'breaching trust' over letter leak — as it happened
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has accused the Liberals of a breach of trust after a letter she wrote to Michaelia Cash was leaked to the media. The letter, which was published by was sent to Cash, who is the Liberal Senate leader, just days after Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defected from the Nationals. Take a look back at today's updates below.
