Politics Now Will Ley survive the climate wars?
Sep 16, 2025
Joining the discussion is Raf Epstein from ABC Radio in Melbourne, known for his insightful political commentary. The podcast delves into the internal discord within the Coalition over climate policies, as key members threaten resignations over the emissions reduction target. Raf and Brett Worthington dissect Sussan Ley's leadership challenges and the potential fallout from these divisions. They also touch on the broader implications for the Liberal Party and the nation's climate strategy amid rising economic pressures and global responsibilities.
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Episode notes
Coalition Split Is Ideological, Not Technical
- The Coalition's climate debate is driven by deep ideological splits, not just policy nuance.
- Andrew Hastie and Matt Canavan use aggressive rhetoric that widens the party's internal divide.
Electability Versus Purity Tension
- Liberal MPs are publicly torn between electability and ideological purity over net zero.
- This tension risks making the party unelectable in urban seats if unresolved.
State Liberals Defend Net Zero
- Raf asked Victorian Liberals and they said they would not dump net zero, showing state-federal divides.
- He traced the split back to Tony Abbott's era and long-running party disagreements on climate science.