Sussan Ley faces internal calls for climate position, denies challenge to her authority

This comes as Labor is weeks away from announcing its interim 2035 target, which will be informed by the Climate Change Authority.

It’s understood debate initially began in the Liberal Party room, with comments than expanding to the party’s position on adopting 2050 net-zero targets.

The issue was then canvassed at a joint party room meeting.

Speaking to media following the meeting, Ms Ley rejected categorisation that the comments were a “challenge” to her authority.

“I want to encourage the private conversations,” she said.

“There has been no conversation that has not been constructive, collegiate and respects the future development of the energy policy, no conversation whatsoever.”

During the fiery press conference, Ms Ley was asked whether the party’s position on net zero would threaten the party’s unity, with Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce pushing for a repeal of the targets.

Instead, Ms Ley said members had told her they were “pleased at the opportunity for debate”.

“With respect to private members and Bills, they are a feature of our party,” she said.

“They are a feature of the great democracy within our party by the way the Labor Party does not allow these things because you will have to see from the same song sheet every day of the week.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is facing internal pressure to form a position on Australia’s 2035 climate targets. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

Sources gave different accounts of what triggered the “debate”, but one said Senate opposition leader Michaelia Cash raised it first, with a spokesman for Senator Cash rejecting the claim.

However, they agreed Ms Ley was not in control of the conversation.

Appearing on Sky News shortly after, opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan refused to talk about “what happens in the party room”, saying that it was “sacred”.

“We’ve got a process in place, and we’re continuing with that process,” he said.

Liberal Cook MP Simon Kennedy said neither Labor’s 2030 target was “not achievable”.

He said emissions have largely remained the same since 2020, while energy prices were increasing.

“For this Labor government net-zero is slogan, not a plan or a policy,” he said.

“How can you trust Bowen when he can’t deliver the price drops he promised, the emissions reductions and renewables he has signed up to.

“You can’t believe a thing this governemnt says on energy and climate”