Malcolm Turnbull claims that the Morrison government is constrained by climate change deniers amid its internal war over the net-zero emissions goal.
Watching the coalition government fight over emissions policy is “torture,” says Malcolm Turnbull, claiming that Scott Morrison is trying to avoid an “internal meltdown” like the one that ended his premiership.
Federals and Liberals are divided over Australia’s potential commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with Morrison coming under significant international pressure ahead of his appearance at the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this month.
Mr Turnbull, who was ousted from his position as Liberal leader in 2018 after an internal squabble over his energy policy, the National Energy Guarantee, claims the federal government remains indebted to climate change deniers in 2021.
“I understand this better than most people – I’ve lived through it – and they’re just stuck in this vice (a) a really powerful group of climate deniers who don’t take global warming seriously (and) totally connected to the fossil fuel sector,” he told ABC. Monday.
Citizens have so far refused to sign off on the target, as a number of prominent presidents have demanded deals to support people living in the regions, particularly those working in the resource and agricultural sectors.
National MPs were presented with the Liberals’ plan to cut emissions on Sunday, but they failed to reach a position despite a marathon party room meeting.
Mr Turnbull accused Morrison of being determined not to lead on climate action, and called on his successor to make his plan public and “make a case for change” to the coalition’s junior partner.
“What Scott (Morrison) is trying to do is avoid the same internal meltdown we’ve seen in the past that ended my prime ministerial term,” he said.
You can’t underestimate the tendency (the citizens) to blow everything up.
“It’s very difficult to run the coalition party room and manage the citizens, and it is very difficult to manage (Deputy Prime Minister) Barnaby Joyce.”
Deputy Citizens Leader David Littleproud appeared on the same ABC program where he said his party aims to reach a net-zero deal by 2050 before Mr Morrison heads to the UK in less than two weeks.
“I think this is our chance to bury it once and for all. There is exhaustion and people really want us to continue to resolve,” he said.
“They don’t want it to cost them too much, but they want us to be honest about how to make it happen.
“The bigots on both sides really need to eavesdrop and allow the adults now, over the next week, to sort this out.”
Independent MP Zally Stegal on Monday reintroduced her climate change bill to the federal parliament, proposing that Australia commit to achieving net zero emissions by December 31, 2050 after cutting it 60 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.
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