There has been plenty of political careers destroyed by climate policy over the last two decades and the devastation continues in 2025.
Today its Liberal Party leader, Sussan Ley, being dragged over the coals for net zero. In 2012 it was Prime Minister, Julian Gillard, who was dumped for introducing a carbon levy.
Ever since the National Party dumped net zero last month Coalition MPs have been engaged in internal brawling.
Climate policy has always been like a wrecking ball for Australian politics crashing through party room meetings and toppling the leadership ambitions of so many, even Prime Ministers.
Just ask Malcolm Turnbull who was dumped as Prime Minister in 2018 for trying to tackle climate change. Reflecting on his political career today, Turnbull says his biggest regret is “not being able to enact policies to reduce emissions.”
It’s a tough one. Even today Coalition MPs resist action on climate change, despite alienating voters who have made it abundantly clear they want the government to do more. The party’s right wing has become emboldened by US President, Donald Trump, and his unapologetic stance on fossil fuels.
They want the electorate to believe renewables are driving up electricity costs when its really ageing coal plants, high gas prices and inefficient markets that are to blame.
Australia’s ageing coal fleet will not save the day. Most plants are set to retire within the next decade which is why the focus is on renewable energy.
When it comes to gas supply, the low-cost fields that have historically supplied Australia are running out of gas. Moreover, large new gas fields come with high production and transport costs.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) ageing coal plants, high gas prices and inefficient markets are driving up energy costs: “There is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to energy affordability – but it is not about choosing a different electricity generation mix. It is about fixing inefficient energy markets and regulation, increasing competition, and acting on the demand side.”
How many more political careers will be destroyed on the road to net zero?