Liberals declare power bills the big battle and lay down gauntlet to Albanese as net zero dumped

The Liberal Party has made energy affordability Australia’s new electoral battlefield, abandoning legislated emission reduction targets as their leader Sussan Ley accused Anthony Albanese of lying about his ability to stop rising power bills.

The hardened stance came as Ms Ley pledged the Liberal Party would bring power bills down and guarantee emissions cuts every year.

The Liberal shadow ministry agreed to scrap legislated targets for emissions reductions but sees achieving net zero as a “welcome outcome” of continuing to cut.

Revealed on Thursday, the party’s new policy takes an all-in technology approach, including the possibility of taxpayers underwriting new coal and gas generation and carbon capture and storage.

But Ms Ley said the party would still place energy affordability ab