Well, the Liberal Party in particular, a Liberal senator is calling on the party to rethink net zero. Senator Leah Bli, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities, joins men are Senator, good morning to you.

Well, the Liberal Party in particular, a Liberal senator is calling on the party to rethink net zero. Senator Leah Bli, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities, joins men are Senator, good morning to you.

Good morning Graham, and good morning to your listeners.

Good morning Graham, and good morning to your listeners.

Why do you think it's time to consider or reconsider that zero? Look, I think.

Why do you think it's time to consider or reconsider that zero? Look, I think.

Graham, the election result was sobering for our party. The Australian people have certainly sent us a very clear message. And I think it's important that we have a strong energy policy and we meet the expectations of Australians. But I think it's also important that power or electricity is affordable and reliable. And I think it's important post election that we have conversations around what things like net zero mean for everyday Australian families. And you know, every dollar that an Australian family is spending on higher electricity bills is less money that they've got groceries for childcare, for mortgage, for payments for rent. And I think you know, families and communities in particular are feeling the pressure.

Graham, the election result was sobering for our party. The Australian people have certainly sent us a very clear message. And I think it's important that we have a strong energy policy and we meet the expectations of Australians. But I think it's also important that power or electricity is affordable and reliable. And I think it's important post election that we have conversations around what things like net zero mean for everyday Australian families. And you know, every dollar that an Australian family is spending on higher electricity bills is less money that they've got groceries for childcare, for mortgage, for payments for rent. And I think you know, families and communities in particular are feeling the pressure.

So is this a policy shift or a political reaction to the just the election.

So is this a policy shift or a political reaction to the just the election.

I think this is an important conversation that we need to have as people that are aspiring to represent the South Australian people, but also Australian people more broadly. I think we can't build a stronger nation when we are leaving parts of it behind. And I think, certainly looking at sectors, particularly in regional parts of South Australia and Australia more broadly, when we're looking at looming carbon constraints, what does that mean for people that have livestock, that have land, What does it mean for power station workers in years to come? So I think it's really important that we start having this very soon sensible conversation around energy reliability but also what it's costing us and how much are Australians willing to actually pay and sacrifice.

I think this is an important conversation that we need to have as people that are aspiring to represent the South Australian people, but also Australian people more broadly. I think we can't build a stronger nation when we are leaving parts of it behind. And I think, certainly looking at sectors, particularly in regional parts of South Australia and Australia more broadly, when we're looking at looming carbon constraints, what does that mean for people that have livestock, that have land, What does it mean for power station workers in years to come? So I think it's really important that we start having this very soon sensible conversation around energy reliability but also what it's costing us and how much are Australians willing to actually pay and sacrifice.

So are you thinking about just eliminating net zero altogether?

So are you thinking about just eliminating net zero altogether?

I think that has to be a conversation that we are having because energy reliability shouldn't be a luxury. And I think South Australians will remember all too well the twenty sixteen statewide blackout, that instability, and as we go and we decommission a traditional base load generation faster than we're replacing it. We have to be cognizant that those types of blackouts may be something that is into our future. It is one of the first times that we are going backwards in terms of density of energy generation that we're looking at, and I think it is so important for us as leaders that we are making sure we are being honest with the Australian people, but also that we're putting everything on the table because certainly the portfolio that I represent, it is the families and communities that are doing it tough. And what is the cost that we're willing to pay when we're trying to reach an ideological target. We've got to start being sensible about these things. The stakes are too high for us to not be considering the impact this is having on everyday Australians.

I think that has to be a conversation that we are having because energy reliability shouldn't be a luxury. And I think South Australians will remember all too well the twenty sixteen statewide blackout, that instability, and as we go and we decommission a traditional base load generation faster than we're replacing it. We have to be cognizant that those types of blackouts may be something that is into our future. It is one of the first times that we are going backwards in terms of density of energy generation that we're looking at, and I think it is so important for us as leaders that we are making sure we are being honest with the Australian people, but also that we're putting everything on the table because certainly the portfolio that I represent, it is the families and communities that are doing it tough. And what is the cost that we're willing to pay when we're trying to reach an ideological target. We've got to start being sensible about these things. The stakes are too high for us to not be considering the impact this is having on everyday Australians.

You're talking about the cost of the energy transition. How sure are you that net zero policies are directly linked to the horizon household power bills?

You're talking about the cost of the energy transition. How sure are you that net zero policies are directly linked to the horizon household power bills?

I think we can say that the energy when we're looking at energy generation here in Australia, we can apply that directly. So renewables are not the cheapest way for us to generate energy here in Australia. We're one of the most natural resource rich countries in the world, and certainly here in South Australia we pay the highest electricity prices that just should not be happening. And you know, earlier this week we heard of an avatar closing in the States North. It's starting to get tough for businesses when we're looking at what energy is costing them to stay open. When we look at people choosing between heating or eating, we really do have to be looking at exactly what that cost is. You know, the two hundred and seventy five dollars that energy prices were supposed to go down, we never saw that. Instead, we've seen electricity prices continue to soar in Australia and they will continue going that way, particularly if we keep on this path of getting to net zero by twenty fifty.

I think we can say that the energy when we're looking at energy generation here in Australia, we can apply that directly. So renewables are not the cheapest way for us to generate energy here in Australia. We're one of the most natural resource rich countries in the world, and certainly here in South Australia we pay the highest electricity prices that just should not be happening. And you know, earlier this week we heard of an avatar closing in the States North. It's starting to get tough for businesses when we're looking at what energy is costing them to stay open. When we look at people choosing between heating or eating, we really do have to be looking at exactly what that cost is. You know, the two hundred and seventy five dollars that energy prices were supposed to go down, we never saw that. Instead, we've seen electricity prices continue to soar in Australia and they will continue going that way, particularly if we keep on this path of getting to net zero by twenty fifty.

Place the blame entirely the feet of renewables. I mean, we're a long way down the path towards renewable energy, aren't we.

Place the blame entirely the feet of renewables. I mean, we're a long way down the path towards renewable energy, aren't we.

We are a very long way down the path to renewable energy. And I think this is a really important to make that this isn't a choice between whether we should take climate action or not. I think climate action absolutely matters. I've got three children. I want them to be able to grow up and live in a pristine, beautiful environment that we have in Australia, and we should do everything we can to preserve that. But we've also got to look at the cost to household budgets. We've got to look at the cost to jobs in regional towns. We've got to look at our ability ability to actually manufacture in this country. You know, it's not lost on me the irony that while we are embracing wind turbines and solar panels, none of that is manufactured here in Australia. All of those jobs are being sent off.

We are a very long way down the path to renewable energy. And I think this is a really important to make that this isn't a choice between whether we should take climate action or not. I think climate action absolutely matters. I've got three children. I want them to be able to grow up and live in a pristine, beautiful environment that we have in Australia, and we should do everything we can to preserve that. But we've also got to look at the cost to household budgets. We've got to look at the cost to jobs in regional towns. We've got to look at our ability ability to actually manufacture in this country. You know, it's not lost on me the irony that while we are embracing wind turbines and solar panels, none of that is manufactured here in Australia. All of those jobs are being sent off.

Sure do you see an ongoing thing future for coal and gas and the power situation.

Sure do you see an ongoing thing future for coal and gas and the power situation.

I can't see unless there is an alternative, which we know that nuclear are the countries, are the jurisdictions. They're using nuclear. It is a very clean source of energy. Renewables aren't going to do it alone. We know that when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, that it is an unstable power supply and doesn't provide base load. Batteries will only get us so far that the even minutes batteries will provide minutes as opposed to days or hours. So I think gas and coal are going to have to continue to play a role in Australia's energy mix for the foreseeable future.

I can't see unless there is an alternative, which we know that nuclear are the countries, are the jurisdictions. They're using nuclear. It is a very clean source of energy. Renewables aren't going to do it alone. We know that when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, that it is an unstable power supply and doesn't provide base load. Batteries will only get us so far that the even minutes batteries will provide minutes as opposed to days or hours. So I think gas and coal are going to have to continue to play a role in Australia's energy mix for the foreseeable future.

What would do to our international reputation to turn our backs on that zero.

What would do to our international reputation to turn our backs on that zero.

I think there are lots of countries that are reassessing and it's not so much turning our backs on our environmental responsibility. And there are lots of commentators out there, so you know, Australia, yes, we are only a very small portion of global emissions, but the fact is we are sending our resources offshore, including gas and coal, so we're saying it's okay, we're just not burning them here, and that's coming at a cost for every day Australians. I think it's really sort of important for us to manage our environmental responsibility, but to also be looking at how are we going to make sure that we are looking after every day Australians here, making sure that they've got jobs in the future. I would like to see us have manufacturing return because at the moment we've just got business after business closing down because they cannot afford the electricity costs.

I think there are lots of countries that are reassessing and it's not so much turning our backs on our environmental responsibility. And there are lots of commentators out there, so you know, Australia, yes, we are only a very small portion of global emissions, but the fact is we are sending our resources offshore, including gas and coal, so we're saying it's okay, we're just not burning them here, and that's coming at a cost for every day Australians. I think it's really sort of important for us to manage our environmental responsibility, but to also be looking at how are we going to make sure that we are looking after every day Australians here, making sure that they've got jobs in the future. I would like to see us have manufacturing return because at the moment we've just got business after business closing down because they cannot afford the electricity costs.

You're calling for the party to rethink net zero. Do you have a feeling within the party they are in sympathy with what you're saying.

You're calling for the party to rethink net zero. Do you have a feeling within the party they are in sympathy with what you're saying.

I think there are certainly different views and different elements within the party, and the Liberal Party is very well known as being the broad church. It was certainly an interesting debate that we had on the weekend with our State Council where the State Council delegates, which is the grassroots members of our organization. We're certainly calling on the party to reconsider its approach to net zero, and that you know, our grass roots members represent. They are farmers, they are engineers, they are nurses, they are teachers. So I think it's certainly an interesting cross section of the austrounding community that are asking for these conversations to happen. And I think, especially post an election, it is very very important that we consider what the implications are of targets like net zero and what that is going to mean for us as a nation looking into the future. You know, we've seen New Zealand sort of walking away from it. We've got the US has walked away from it, so we've really got to consider in a global landscape what net zero actually means now globally, not just here in Australia.

I think there are certainly different views and different elements within the party, and the Liberal Party is very well known as being the broad church. It was certainly an interesting debate that we had on the weekend with our State Council where the State Council delegates, which is the grassroots members of our organization. We're certainly calling on the party to reconsider its approach to net zero, and that you know, our grass roots members represent. They are farmers, they are engineers, they are nurses, they are teachers. So I think it's certainly an interesting cross section of the austrounding community that are asking for these conversations to happen. And I think, especially post an election, it is very very important that we consider what the implications are of targets like net zero and what that is going to mean for us as a nation looking into the future. You know, we've seen New Zealand sort of walking away from it. We've got the US has walked away from it, so we've really got to consider in a global landscape what net zero actually means now globally, not just here in Australia.

Senator, thanks for your time today. That's Senator Leo Blyth, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families, Stronger Communities. What are your thoughts, folks. She's calling on the Liberal Party to rethink net zero? Is that what we should be doing? Five Double A Mornings with Graham Goodings

Senator, thanks for your time today. That's Senator Leo Blyth, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families, Stronger Communities. What are your thoughts, folks. She's calling on the Liberal Party to rethink net zero? Is that what we should be doing? Five Double A Mornings with Graham Goodings