Scott Morrison, the former prime minister who committed Australia to a net zero emissions target by 2050, has declared the pledge is “just ideology”, providing impetus for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley from a senior figure in her faction to walk back the Coalition policy.

Morrison’s intervention came as Energy Minister Chris Bowen assured households that electricity bills would fall because of a surge of cheap renewable energy flooding the grid.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison. Credit: AP

In an update to be released on Thursday, the energy market operator reveals a surge in wind, solar and hydropower has cut wholesale electricity prices by more than a quarter across Australia’s eastern states since July, even as chilly weather hiked demand, and more electric cars were plugged in

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