Teal MPs will take a 75 per cent by 2035 emissions reduction target to the next election

Teal MPs in traditionally blue-ribbon seats push for the emissions reduction goal, with Coalition MPs warning against adopting a 2035 target.

Teal MPs, pictured at the Mid Winter Ball in Canberra, say Australia must embrace an emissions reduction target of 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Teal MPs in traditionally blue-ribbon seats – who Anthony Albanese could be forced to negotiate with if his government is plunged into minority at the next election – are demanding a minimum 75 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035.

The independents in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth said their constituents wanted “real climate action, not another decade of delay” after The Australian revealed Coalition MPs were warning against adopting a 2035 target amid concerns about its impact on cost-of-living.

Some teals, whose seats the Liberal Party wants to win back in order to form government, are also calling for a more ambitious 2030 target, such as 50 or 60 per cent.

The government’s legislated 2030 target is 43 per cent, which is set as a floor.

“By 2035, I believe we should be pursuing an emissions reduction of 75 per cent at a minimum target,” Kylea Tink, the independent member for North Sydney, said.

“Australia needs to rise to the very real challenges presented by climate change and accept responsibility for the changes we can affect – not just aligning with international benchmarks but helping to drive them further with a bold ambition. We need far more than a mere ‘less bad’ approach.”

The independent member for Curtin Kate Chaney added: “Beyond our 2030 target, we need an ambitious 2035 target, such as 75 per cent, to signal to the private sector that Australia will be part of decarbonising the global economy. We also need a sector-by-sector path to get there.

“If the Coalition can’t see the importance of an ambitious 2035 target, voters are unlikely to consider it a viable alternative government.”

Ahead of the Dunkley by-election, Labor holds 77 seats in the House of Representatives — a majority of one. The Coalition holds 55 seats while the crossbench comprises 18 MPs, including the six teals.

If neither major party wins the necessary 76 seats to form government at the next election, due to be held in 2025, leaders will need to try and win the support of independent MPs to ensure supply and oppose no confidence motions.

NSW, Victoria and Queensland have set 2035 targets of between 70 and 80 per cent and want to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 or 2050.

The teals are set to try and take advantage of the Coalition’s divisions on climate change, accusing the Liberal Party of “sabotaging” climate action.

Zoe Daniel, the independent MP for Goldstein, said a 75 per cent 2035 target was realistic if Australia was to achieve net zero by 2050 and was made more urgent given 2023 was the world’s hottest year on record.

Wentworth independent MP Allegra Spender agreed with a 75 per cent by 2035 target.

“It’s ambitious but achievable and aligns Australia much more closely with our international peers,” she said. “The Liberal Party’s failure to support a 2035 target is not surprising given their track record. Voters want real climate action, not another decade of delay.”

Independent MP Sophie Scamps, who represents the seat of Mackellar, wouldn’t nominate a number for a 2035 target on Tuesday but has previously supported the NSW government’s target of 70 per cent.

Warringah independent MP Zali Steggall, who was first elected in 2019 after defeating former prime minister Tony Abbott, said a 43 per cent 2030 target would not drive the scale of change required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees under the Paris agreement.

“Australia needs to increase its ambitions and I’m advocating for a minimum 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2035,” she said. “It’s time to take the lead on the national front.”

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has kickstarted the government’s process to decide a 2035 target by February next year, writing to the Climate Change Authority for its advice and promising one that is “ambitious and achievable”.

Peter Dutton has declared he as leader and his party room will decide what targets the Coalition adopts and opposes, after NSW Liberal Party president Jason Falinski – who lost his seat to Dr Scamps – called for the opposition to embrace a 2035 target.