‘Nationals-lite’: former Liberal president says party would be ‘rewarding standover tactics’ if net zero dumped

Exclusive: Jason Falinski says cutting net zero would tell young Australians we have given up' and could have negative impact at next election

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The Liberal party ran as Nationals-lite" last election and would be rewarding standover tactics" from its junior Coalition partner if it caves to dropping a net zero emissions commitment, says former party president and MP Jason Falinski, as moderate and conservative forces continue warring over climate policy.

The Liberals are poised to ditch their net zero pledge after conservative powerbrokers urged Sussan Ley to follow the Nationals in dumping the target. With a special meeting to be convened in the coming fortnight to resolve a position, moderate Liberals are fighting privately and publicly to retain a semblance of the policy amid fears abandoning the climate goal would further damage its standing in city seats.