Net zero Australia LIVE updates: Liberals agree to dump 2050 target; Ley promises lower prices, dodges questions on timing; Littleproud welcomes news

Opposition energy and emissions reduction spokesperson Dan Tehan has not said whether a future Coalition government would open new coal-fired power plants, instead saying that it would support the “sweating” of existing assets.

“So what we’ve said is we will make sure that we have a technology-agnostic approach,” he said. “So when it comes to the capacity investment scheme, yes, we will support the state governments, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, who are already sweating their coal assets.

Dan Tehan with Sussan Ley on Thursday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“So we will support them because we’ve got to make sure we keep capacity in the system.

“We will let the market determine how we go about any estimate on how much you might need to help them.”

Detail on the policy sent to the media said the Liberal Party would ensure “no premature closure of coal plants”.

Anne Ruston (left) as Ley speaks on Thursday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Moderate Liberal senator Anne Ruston said she was “delighted” the Paris Agreement had remained in the party’s policy, but would not comment on her opposition to the dropping of net zero at a party room meeting yesterday.

“I don’t think it’s any surprise to anybody that there was a wide range of views that were canvassed in the party room yesterday and in shadow ministry today,” she said. “And I’ve always been a great believer that the best policies are always delivered when you’ve got everybody’s points of view put forward.

“I think reality tells us that we were always going to have to come to a compromise, but I’m obviously delighted that we’re remaining in Paris, and that we’re committed to emissions reduction, and I think that is a very positive outcome.”