Opposition Leader Says He Has ‘Moral Duty’ to Restore Cheap Energy, Rejects Net Zero

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has taken aim at the Albanese government’s net-zero policy, arguing it is driving costs up inflation.

“Everything is costing more for Australians–in homes, businesses, farms and factories–because energy is costing more,” he said in a speech at the Centre for Independent Studies on Feb. 16.

Taylor accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen of planning to spend trillions of dollars to meet carbon emissions targets in the next decades, even if it reduces Australians’ living standards.

He then said it was now his “moral duty” to restore cheap and reliable energy, adding that he would soon appoint a new shadow energy minister.

“A shadow energy minister who will take the energy policy fight to Labor with grit and gravitas,” he said.

Taylor is expected to announce his new shadow cabinet this week.

Until last week, when Sussan Ley still led the Liberal Party, Dan Tehan was shadow energy minister.

In November, the Liberals agreed to formally abandon their commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and announced that it would repeal Labor’s 2030 emissions reduction legislation if it won the next election.

However, the party decided to remain in the Paris Agreement and continue setting five-yearly interim targets.

During media interviews earlier in the day, Taylor hinted the Coalition could reopen the debate on nuclear power, despite the party failing to promote it heavily at the May 2025 federal election.

While Taylor did not directly confirm whether nuclear would be part of the Coalition’s energy platform, he said: “We need every fuel source in the mix.”

Labor Transforming Australia into a Socialist Economy: Taylor

At the same time, Taylor accused Labor of reshaping the economy through bigger government, heavier regulation and higher spending.

He said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was transforming Australia from a free-market economy into a state-directed one.

“His actions have been defined by three typical traits of big, socialist-leaning governments: more taxes, more regulation, and more spending,” Taylor said.

The opposition leader said under Labor there had been 5,000 new regulations.

“Last year was the worst year on record for business insolvencies, and contrary to Anthony Albanese’s desire for a ‘Future Made in Australia,’ we’re seeing a future made abroad–with more industries moving offshore,” Taylor said.

“Billions have been spent on energy subsidies—addressing the symptom, not the cause of Labor’s energy policy disaster.”

Government Rejects Liberals’ Claims

The government has pushed back against the Coalition’s attacks on the budget and productivity, with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher rejecting claims that Labor has failed to lift growth.

Appearing at a parliamentary hearing last week on behalf of Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Gallagher said Australia’s productivity problem pre-dated the Albanese government.

“If I just remind you that over the decade to 2020, average annual labour productivity growth in Australia was the slowest in 60 years,” she said.

Gallagher also accused the Coalition of failing to act when it was in office, arguing it ignored major reform advice.

“And I think even [Liberal] Senator [Jane] Hume acknowledged that when you were in government, you didn’t do enough on the productivity agenda. In fact, you had the Productivity Commission reports and they sat on the shelf and you did nothing.”