Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has formally dropped a core component of his signature energy plan, abandoning the commitment to legislate a 26 per cent emissions reduction target in line with the Paris climate accord.
The prime minister said he was still committed to the Paris targets but his slim one-seat majority in the House of Representatives meant he could not impose a formal target on the energy sector until conservative critics in his own party room changed their position.
“The outstanding reservations of a number of our colleagues, combined with the absence of bipartisan support, mean that as long as that remains the case, we won't be in a position to take that legislation forward,” Mr Turnbull told reporters at Parliament House.
Labor maintains it is open to a deal but wants to see the wording of the actual legislation, which the government has not released.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, August 20, 2018.
AAP
The backflip comes amid a flurry of speculation about a potential leadership spill, with reports Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton is considering a challenge.
Mr Turnbull said he had seen Mr Dutton at a meeting earlier on Monday morning. "He is a member of our team, he has given me his absolute support," the prime minister said.
The debate about whether to put the emissions target in law or in a more flexible regulation was now "moot", Mr Turnbull said, confirming the government would not progress with either for now. But he left the door open to re-attempting the targets when the numbers in the House were more secure.
Labor said the backflip was a "white flag" surrender to the right-wing of the party.
"Mr Turnbull has demonstrated that he is not the leader this nation needs. Real leadership is about fighting for the principles you believe in," opposition leader Bill Shorten said, while still promising to consider the final design.
