The opposition coalition in Australia has locked in a sweeping energy policy that places household power-prices and supply reliability ahead of legally binding emissions-reduction goals.

In a major party-room meeting, senior MPs endorsed plans to remove the legislated objective of achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 and shift the focus of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and national electricity market objectives from emissions to consumer affordability and reliability.

The policy, announced by the opposition leader Sussan Ley, states that the Coalition remains committed to the Paris Agreement but will no longer pursue interim targets such as the former 43 per cent cut by 2030 or the 82 per cent renewables target.

Instead, reductions will be achieved “on average year-on-year” in line with the performance of comparable nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The plan emphasises technology neutrality and a broad energy mix including gas, nuclear and coal as part of a “balanced” approach.

Key components of the strategy include rewriting the national electricity objectives to prioritise consumers, maintaining coal-fired generation capacity until replacement supply is proven, lifting the federal moratorium on nuclear power and adding uranium to Australia’s list of critical minerals.

The Opposition’s working document, titled “Affordable and Responsible”, asserts that the policy will lock in “affordable power and a reliable energy grid” before specifying further emissions targets.

Alongside the energy announcement, Ley signalled that immigration will be the next major policy front.

She stated that “overseas arrivals into Australia are far too high” under the current government and promised that a new Coalition immigration policy would be released within weeks, although provided no further details on which intake streams would be adjusted.

Moderate members within the Liberal Party expressed unease about the plan, reporting that they raised concerns about including coal within the existing capacity investment scheme during the meeting.

Some MPs privately speculated that Ley’s leadership could come under challenge if the policy shift deepens internal fractures.

The incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded sharply, accusing the Coalition of undermining investment certainty and of back-pedalling on climate commitments.

He said abandoning a clear net-zero pathway would damage Australia’s standing, reduce renewable investment and ultimately raise bills for consumers.

Regional-focused Nationals leader David Littleproud emphasised the Coalition’s economic rationale, suggesting the policy seeks to deliver cheaper, fairer emissions-reduction outcomes for families and industry rather than chasing idealised science.

Littleproud said the Coalition’s emissions policy was “economics-driven” and focused on affordability and regional resilience.

As the election approaches, this policy pivot signals a broader debate over the balance between cost-of-living pressures, national energy security and climate commitments.

The next weeks will likely see detailed proposals on both energy reform and immigration emerge, testing both internal Coalition cohesion and appeal to voters across urban, regional and suburban Australia.