ABC News Daily Could killing net zero save the Coalition?
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Nov 5, 2025 
Michelle Grattan, chief political correspondent at The Conversation and a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra, dives into the Coalition's tumultuous climate policy landscape. She discusses the Nationals' abandonment of their net-zero commitment and its implications for Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Grattan sheds light on the historical skepticism within the Coalition, the political maneuvering behind Scott Morrison's 2021 agreement, and the local resistance to infrastructure changes. The conversation explores the electoral risks and potential compromises facing the Liberals amid a shifting climate narrative.
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Coalition As A Political Weathervane
- The Coalition has repeatedly shifted its climate stance, acting like a political "weathervane" rather than holding firm principles.
- Leadership changes and deals (e.g., 2021 net zero adoption) were driven by political calculation more than settled conviction.
Morrison's Coal Moment And 2021 Deal
- Scott Morrison famously brought a lump of coal into Parliament as a symbol of support for coal.
- He later struck a 2021 deal to adopt net zero by 2050 for political reasons, showing personal and policy inconsistency.
Nationals Frame Net Zero As Costly
- The Nationals' push to dump net zero is framed around costs to the economy and households, and promoting alternatives like nuclear.
- Internal party pressure, driven by figures like Matt Canavan, pushed the policy review toward abandoning net zero.