Peter Dutton has escalated the climate wars by declaring the Coalition will not release its 2030 emissions reduction target until after the next election, while also accusing the pro-climate teals of being closet Greens who are out of touch with their voters.

As the teals returned fire, saying the opposition leader had given up on winning back the crucial former Liberal seats, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who announced Labor’s 2030 target when in opposition, said Mr Dutton had effectively abandoned the Paris climate accord.