A jubilant Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ruthlessly ribbed the Opposition in Question Time on Tuesday amid turmoil over the Coalition’s climate policy.
The PM seized on the Nationals ditching a net zero carbon emissions policy at the weekend and the Liberals being unable to settle on a position.
Ley is under pressure to follow the Nationals’ lead and ditch the Liberals’ net zero policy.
Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll shows the Coalition languishing at just 24 per cent primary support, its worst result ever, fueling speculation about her leadership.
‘Since the election, they’ve ripped themselves apart,’ Albanese said.
Ley asked just one question during Question Time – about interest rates, given breaking news of the Reserve Bank’s decision to leave rates on hold on Tuesday.
Energy policy dominated the exchanges, with Albanese citing The Australian Financial Review’s Phil Coorey’s blunt assessment of how the debate over the climate policy has wreaked havoc on the energy grid.
‘The climate wars of the past two decades, caused primarily by recalcitrance from the conservatives, is the reason why the energy grid today is such a dysfunctional and costly mess.’ Albanese said.
Anthony Albanese (pictured) was confident, capitalising on Opposition chaos in Parliament
Albanese pointed to the looming closure of ageing coal-fired power stations across the country – 24 of 28 already scheduled to shut – saying it was proof of the Coalition’s failure to prepare.
‘They’ve left Australians paying the price,’ he said.
Albanese also quoted Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox, who pleaded for an end to the endless political climate brawls.
‘”Oh, God no. No! Anything but! Please!” Willox said.
Ley, meanwhile, was largely sidelined from Question Time, managing only a single question, on the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the cash rate at 3.6 per cent.
It comes after higher-than-expected September-quarter inflation data dashed hopes of a further 0.25 per cent interest rate cut.
Sussan Ley (pictured) is under pressure as the Liberals consider dropping net zero
Anthony Albanese (pictured) walked into Question Time confidently, amid Opposition chaos
While Ley’s office plays a strategic role in preparing the opposition for Question Time, it was unusual that the Opposition Leader did not ask the first question.
Instead, Leon Rebello, the LNP member for McPherson on the Gold Coast, was given the opportunity to ask the first Opposition question.
Ley has faced scrutiny over her judgment, after she slammed Albanese for wearing a Joy Division t-shirt, noting the band’s name originates from a term used to describe women forced into sexual slavery in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
However, several Coalition MPs, including Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, dismissed the backlash, arguing that the controversy over the t-shirt was not a pressing issue for Australians.
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank Governor Michelle Bullock on Tuesday warned that extra rate cuts were unlikely in the future.
She said it looks likely that the inflation rate will have a 3 in front of it, for at least a year.
‘This blip is going to stay in the range for the next 12 months.’
The Liberals are expected to make a decision on net zero by the end of the year.