Energy can be a winning policy for the coalition, but not like this

Politics

Federal

Liberal Party

Opinion

Energy can be a winning policy for the Coalition, but not like this

George Brandis Former high commissioner to the UK and federal attorney-general September 8, 2025 — 5.00am

When Parliament resumes today for the last week of sittings before a long break, the House of Representatives will continue its debate on Barnaby Joyce’s private member’s bill to abolish the net zero emissions target.

The government has taken the highly unusual step of giving the bill a priority almost always denied to such private member’s business, to showcase divisions within the Coalition. Labor’s decision to do so is political mischief-making of the highest order, but who can blame them? In the Senate, meanwhile, Joyce’s consigliere Matt Canavan will be introdu