A former Liberal senator, Hollie Hughes, has resigned from the party, citing ongoing tensions and a perceived lack of support for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Hughes, who left parliament just six months ago, believes that Ley has been undermined from the start, especially by her conservative rivals, Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie, and their supporters. This comes as the Nationals MPs push for funding new coal plants, and Moderate Liberals struggle to maintain party unity over climate policy.
Hughes, a former shadow assistant minister in the Dutton opposition, expressed her frustration with the current leadership dynamics. She stated, 'Sussan has been undermined from day one, and the people doing it are those I worked with in the party room. I want the freedom to discuss their capabilities without party restrictions.'
The recent internal debates within the Coalition have been intense, with a new energy plan agreed upon on Sunday. This plan scraps legislated emissions targets, reduces subsidies for renewables, and adopts a 'technology neutral' approach, potentially subsidizing coal, batteries, gas, or nuclear power. Nationals MPs interpret this as supporting new coal plants, while Moderate Liberals are concerned about Ley's stance on coal and net zero.
Despite some Moderate MPs considering resignation, they have not yet taken action, as they fear it would benefit their conservative rivals. The NSW Liberal Party's decision to retain its net zero pledge has sparked further debate, with federal frontbencher Andrew Bragg urging members to stay, acknowledging the party's commitment to the Paris Agreement and its impact on emissions reduction. However, some members feel the party is not learning from past mistakes, leading to a sense of disillusionment.
The Nationals, on the other hand, advocate for emissions cuts aligned with global averages, which would result in smaller reductions than the government's current targets. Queensland Senator Matt Canavan and Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan support new coal plants, arguing that Australia has wasted funds on alternative energy. However, Ley has offered a compromise, stating the opposition won't fund new coal plants but will support the operation of existing ones.
The controversy surrounding the energy policy highlights the ongoing tensions within the Coalition, with Moderate Liberals and Nationals MPs holding differing views on climate policy and the role of coal in Australia's energy future.
