Australian Opposition tearing itself apart over Net Zero again — Andrew Hastie is brave enough to lead “an exodus”

ABC

By Jo Nova

Andrew Hastie has “Nailed his colors to the mast”

Since belief in Climate Change is maintained through bullying and coercion rather than evidence, it takes someone brave to stand up to it.

The Greens can be intimidating, but in Andrew Hastie’s last career, he took on the Taliban, so being called a climate denier is only so scary.

Andrew Hasti in Afghanistan, 2009. Photo by Brendan Conroy

The Liberal Party has fallen to 27% primary vote — a dismal, perhaps death-spiral position, mirroring the UK Tories. Yet Trump won in the US by calling Net Zero a hoax and dumping it entirely.  And Nigel Farage is storming up the polls in the UK — breaking the ancient two-party system.

The last time the Liberals stormed an election in Australia was when Tony Abbott won 90 seats promising to Axe the (Carbon) Tax. Polls show 83% of Australians don’t like higher emissions targets. They also show half of Australia doesn’t want to pay a single cent on Net Zero targets. Even the Labor Party hid their new bigger (stupider) Net Zero target during the election because they know the voters don’t want it.

Yet despite all these radioactive hot electoral signs, The Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has dithered and delayed on Net Zero, putting off the decision until next year after a long review.

Andrew Hastie is brave enough to stand up to the namecalling bullies, and can’t bear waiting any longer:

Andrew Hastie issues ultimatum over Coalition commitments to net zero

ARC Forum, Andrew Hastie, Flickr 

The home affairs spokesman issued the ultimatum on ABC radio in Perth on Monday, just days after the sacking of senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the front bench.

When asked what he would do if Opposition Leader Sussan Ley attached the Coalition to net zero commitments, the Western Australian MP responded: “That leaves me without a job”.

“I’ve nailed my colours to the mast,” he told ABC Radio Perth.

Predictably, The Age called him a dinosaur — set for extinction. Meanwhile the feminists are baffled that any conservative MP would dare undermine a female leader “and hope to get elected”, as if voters wake up thinking they can’t afford steak for dinner but they need more female politicians in their lives.

The sexist take is demeaning, as if Australian women are so small-minded they might vote for X or Y chromosomes rather than cheaper electricity bills, or affordable homes.

But at least one senior member of the Liberal Party is warning of a mass exodus over Net Zero without some conditions.

‘Mass exodus’ if Ley supports net zero at any cost, warns Liberal

Phillip Coorey, Australian Financial Review

Opposition education spokesman Jonathon Duniam says there could be a “mass exodus” from Sussan Ley’s frontbench unless the Coalition dumps or qualifies its support for net zero emissions by 2050.

The only solid Liberal governments in Australian states left are, as Chris Ulmann points out, in Queensland and the Northern Territory, where they are paired with the Nationals and not pandering to the left. (The NT government will not implement their Net Zero Target. And Queensland has axed their renewable energy targets, and vowed to keep coal plants running for another decade. )

Something has to give

Craig Kelly, former Liberal MP, says it could be the start of a whole new Australian conservative party and lays out his vision:

Here we go, the planets are aligning.

With too many bedwetters, the Liberal Party doesn’t have courage nor the troops to take on the Net Zero scam. Here’s how it could play out.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Hastie resigns over the Liberal Party’s weakness on fighting Net Zero.
            2. At least half a dozen others Liberals join him.
            3. Hastie then announces a new party and invites all other Liberals to join – a few more jump the sinking Liberal Party ship.
            4. There is then a convention (like Menzies held in Albury in December 1944) of the breakaway Liberals and all smaller like minded parties including; the Nationals, One Nation, Libertarians, Family First, Katters Australia, Rennick’s People & United Australia.
            5. Policy platforms are determined and they vote to make Andrew Hastie the leader and Jacinta Price deputy leader of new united force to take on Labor at the 2028 election.
            6. Sitting MPs and Senators that join are automatically preselected, and nominations are called for candidates for all 150 lower house seats and the senate positions in every state – with preselections to be held by democratic primary.
            7. The left over Liberals fade in obscurity with several joining the Teals.
            8. The new entity storms the nation, and hits the lead in polls (like Reform in the UK) and smashes Labor at the 2028 Federal election.
            9. Net Zero is scrapped, Migration is cut, freedom of speech guaranteed, pro-family tax reforms introduced, and covid royal commissions commenced.
            10. Australia is saved.

Bear in mind, Hastie chose not to contest the leadership in May after the election, and has young children, so he may not be trying to take over the leadership or split the party  — he might just want to give Sussan Ley a reason she can’t ignore to commit to a stance that most of Australia wants.

Right now here in Crazy Land,  the government wants to bankrupt the nation to fiddle with the weather in 2100, and the Opposition isn’t even opposing it.

A culture war needs a fighter.

Andrew Hastie in Afghanistan |  Photo by Brenden Conroy 

h/t El Gordo, David B