Liberal Party ‘divided’ on climate: Bishop

Julie Bishop says the Liberals are “divided” on climate change, calling for a policy that will create “regulatory certainty”.

Julie Bishop. Picture: Kym Smith

Julie Bishop says the Liberal Party is “divided” on the issue of climate change and is calling for a policy that will create “regulatory certainty”.

The former foreign minister and deputy to Malcolm Turnbull will today tell business figures in Hong Kong that energy policy was the “heart of political disruption in Australia”.

Ms Bishop will say she cannot see a solution to the Coalition’s division on climate change policy and will lament that the national energy guarantee has been junked.

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“The closest we have come to achieving bipartisan consensus with Labor, sufficient to get an energy policy through parliament, was the national energy guarantee: no longer Coalition policy,” Ms Bishop will tell the Australia Day lunch organised by the Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

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“Our party is divided on the issue of climate change and whether, or how we respond. Interestingly the opinion polls consistently show strong community support action on climate change.

“I don’t see a solution to the current impasse but investors need regulatory certainty given the large and long-term investment needed for building energy generating capacity.”

She will say Labor is on track to win the election despite the unpopularity of Bill Shorten.

“The political environment is challenging for the government. Opinion polls continue to indicate a Labor win with an unpopular leader,” she will say.

“However polls this far from election day are not conclusive. It is likely to become a much closer contest than many anticipate. My strong advice is do not write us off. That would be a mistake. Big mistake.”