Topics: Liberal Party, net zero, energy prices, defence funding, cost-of-living

 

E&OE

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Well, the Liberals' looming net zero showdown may not be much of a showdown after all, with the majority of MPs now in support of dumping a net zero emissions target. Joining us to discuss today's headlines is Minister for Employment Amanda Rishworth and Shadow Minister for Defence Angus Taylor. Good morning to you both. Alright, Angus, you're up. Your party room meets tomorrow. As the co-architect of the Liberals' net zero policy, are you gearing up for a fight, or is it a done deal?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, Sarah, the one thing I can absolutely guarantee you is we won't be supporting economically destructive and unachievable targets.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

So, it's out?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

We won't be supporting Labor's failed net zero plan, which has been an absolute disaster - driving up electricity prices, driving up the price of everything for Australians - because energy is the economy. That I can guarantee. I won't pre-empt the outcome of the party room, but I am very confident that we will move to apply Liberal values to solve the problem of getting emissions down and, most importantly, making sure that life is affordable for Australians, because that's what they want to see.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

I think what Australians want to see is some kind of uniformity. We don't want any more division, right? You need to become a viable opposition, which you currently aren't.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Sure, I accept that. That's absolutely right, Sarah. But the key to that is making sure we've got a set of policies that hold Labor to account, deliver Australians the improvement in cost of living that they want to see, and turn back the completely failed energy policies of Chris Bowen and this Labor government. There's no question Australians are paying more for energy. They're paying more for everything under a Labor government that simply can't manage the cost of living.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Alright, you were pictured last week looking pretty chummy with some of your Liberal colleagues. What do you say, Angus, to those rumours - those perpetual rumours - that you're preparing to challenge Sussan Ley's leadership?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, that's just not right, Sarah. I'm focused on making sure we've got the policies we need, coming together to hold this government to account and to be contestable at the next election - including in defence, in my portfolio. We're facing the most dangerous circumstances since the Second World War, and this Labor government is underfunding our services at a time when we need the Australian Defence Force to be the strongest, we can make it.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Will you categorically rule out a challenge to Sussan?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

It's not something we're planning. It's not something I'm focused on. As I just described, I'm focused on making sure Australians have what they need to live an affordable life, enjoy a better standard of living, and have the strength they need in their Defence Force.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Does that sound convincing, Amanda?

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

Well, no, it doesn't sound convincing. But what I also don't think is convincing is the idea that simply getting rid of action on climate change is actually a policy. We know that something like 24 out of the 26 coal-fired power stations signalled their intent to close under the former Liberal government. So, if you want to talk about chaos, Angus, it was chaos under your government, where you were Energy Minister, and quite frankly, left us with no investment in our energy generation, which is why we have some of the challenges we have today. But we're getting on with fixing the mess that you left us by investing in generation and getting cheaper energy into the grid. That does take some time. But quite frankly, squibbling over whether or not climate change is real is not actually a policy. That's just an internal fight and really a stalking horse for leadership, from where I sit.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Amanda, I think it's a bit rich to keep blaming them.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Just briefly here - when I was Minister for four years, emissions came down by 10 percent and prices by 10 percent. Under Chris Bowen, prices are up. Everyone knows that. They've gone through the roof, and emissions have barely moved.

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

Angus, you hid the increase in power prices before an election.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Here are the facts. What nonsense.

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

You hid it.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Here are the facts, Amanda. And the trouble with the facts is Labor is not delivering. They're not capable of delivering on either emissions or affordability. And there is a better way. We saw the better way when I was the Minister.

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

Oh, the better way. Well, what is it, Angus? Getting rid of climate action and saying there's no such thing as climate change? We know the consequences of that - no investment in electricity.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Just go to the facts. A 10 percent reduction in emissions and prices at the same time.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

I think everyone can agree, Angus and Amanda, that prices across the board for Australians have gone up, regardless of how you look at it. And Amanda, the reality is the government cannot keep bailing out Australians when it comes to energy prices. It doesn't seem as though you have a concrete plan forward. And you can blame the Liberals or Coalition governments of the past for not getting on top of this in time, but you guys are now in your second term. There are no more excuses.

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

We are getting on with the job of creating more cheap electricity generation in this country. It does take time to build the generation but we’re doing that. We're seeing more renewable energy, which is the cheapest form of energy, come online and we’re also supporting households. There are many people taking up the opportunity of putting a battery in their home as a result of us making it cheaper.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

And right across the country, you're seeing a lot of small businesses closing as well because of the pressures they're facing. I mean, a 0.1 percent growth in September is unsustainable.

 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:

 

Look, we are getting on with the job. We know there are cost pressures on people, and that is why we're looking across the board - whether that is support for small business through the instant asset write-off, or support for people to make it cheaper to go to the doctor, cheaper medicines.

 

SARAH ABO:

 

Well, it's November and Christmas is looming, and it's going to be a pretty dark Christmas for a lot of families and small businesses. Guys, we have run out of time, but we look forward to catching up again and seeing how that meeting goes tomorrow. Angus, all the best.

 

 

ENDS.