Moderate Liberals warned of voter backlash as party prepares net zero retreat
Polling presented to moderate MPs shows voters turning against the Coalition on climate, as Sussan Ley faces growing pressure over the party’s net zero stance.
Moderate Liberal MPs have been handed polling signalling dire electoral consequences if the party abandons climate action, as it prepares to scrap its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
Liberal MPs are travelling to Canberra ahead of a meeting to thrash out a position on Wednesday morning, as leader Sussan Ley attempts to quell revolts from both her moderate and conservative flanks.
All party MPs and senators will be able to speak on the issue on Wednesday morning, before Ley’s leadership team meets on Thursday to settle a position. In a bid to keep the Coalition together, senior Liberals and Nationals will then attempt to broker a deal over the weekend.
On Tuesday afternoon, a group of moderate Liberal MPs were briefed via videolink by the Blueprint Institute — which describes itself as an independent think tank — in a presentation that included YouGov polling conducted in July.
