<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the opposition is run by a collection of "cookers and crackpots" after their internal dissent over net zero.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is reviewing the party's stance on achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 after their historic defeat at the May federal election, in which her predecessor, Peter Dutton, touted a controversial plan to build seven nuclear reactors across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two senior members of the shadow ministry have spoken out against the target, with one threatening to quit or be dumped and the other warning of a "mass exodus" if Ley supports the move.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bhp-alliance-axes-750-jobs-blames-queensland-governments-mining-royalties/f9a1e1bc-8756-417c-ab8d-65a884583d77" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>BHP axes 750 jobs, blames Queensland government decision</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking at a press conference alongside Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen to announce $1.1 billion to explore opportunities from low-carbon liquid fuels, Chalmers had some unfiltered words to say about the opposition's infighting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The worst possible outcome from an economic point of view and an environmental point of view would be if we walked away from net zero as our political opponents want us to do," he told reporters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Liberal Party is run now by this weird collection of cookers and crackpots, and nowhere is that more obvious than when it comes to net zero.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/treasurer-jim-chalmers-says-opposition-is-run-by-weird-collection-of-cookers-and-crackpots/5bd36faf-cadc-4cce-9859-a067326460bb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are as divided and divisive as they have ever been. You see that in their approach to net zero, and you see that in the opposition leader's speech today."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley gave her first economic speech in Melbourne this afternoon, where she reiterated that she would not support a net zero target "at any cost" because the cost can be "too high".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Right now, it looks like the cost is too high when you consider what this government is about to do with its Paris targets. Let's hold that conversation until they actually make their announcement," she said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/milsons-point-post-office-business-owner-fights-for-post-office-to-stay-open/62e31fbd-d824-4553-90cb-9c9f84010456" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Shop owner fears post office closure will 'cripple' her business</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley has yet to announce her climate policy, but said it would be underpinned by two themes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That we must have a stable, reliable energy grid to deliver affordable energy for households and businesses, and that we will play our role in reducing emissions in a responsible and transparent way," she said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shadow home affairs minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/andrew-hastie-threatens-to-quit-opposition-over-net-zero-sussan-ley/742ccd5c-a039-4638-b80a-2c216277f329" rel="" target="" title="Andrew Hastie issued an ultimatum over net zero"><span>Andrew Hastie issued an ultimatum over net zero</span></a><span>, in which he threatened to step down or be dumped from the shadow cabinet if the party moves to support the target.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has since doubled down, telling Sky News today he "wouldn't be much use to the Coalition if I'm out the front trying to sell a policy I don't believe in". </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also admitted to being in the minority.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most of my colleagues don't support my position. I'm in the minority here and I know that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/household-electricity-bills-soared-faster-than-inflation-new-iselect-data/3592c382-efe9-4c91-bc2c-d95a7fd51f02" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bills skyrocket faster than inflation as Aussies suffer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hastie also tried to dispel speculation of any internal dispute, saying his relationship with Ley was "fine", but added that "we're not besties on the phone every day". </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's perfectly fine. We're in communication. We're not besties on the phone every day, as you'd expect. I'm not talking to all my colleagues every day. We're all back in our electorates at the moment doing our jobs," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shadow education minister Jonno Duniam this week warned there would be a "mass exodus" if Ley supported net zero.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the opposition debates what its stance will be, the federal government is poised to reveal its interim emissions reduction target for 2035 this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bowen handed down the first </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/the-national-climate-risk-assessment-australia-key-takeaways-millions-at-risk-of-flooding-heatwave/30c25f88-7101-49ec-8c6c-d9daf122fa54" rel="" target="_blank" title="National Climate Risk Assessment"><span>National Climate Risk Assessment</span></a><span> on Monday, which painted a dire picture of the effects of global warming on all Australians.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The report found that about 1.5 million people will be at risk of sea level rise by 2050, with 2.9 degrees of warming by 2030 to cause up to 444 per cent more heatwave-related deaths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-cbd-push-to-reduce-speed-limit-to-30km/4c26b8b2-38f8-4baa-9fd9-058b09b5b427" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Push to reduce speed limit in Sydney CBD to 30km/h</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also warned of a $770 billion hit to property and devastating food shortages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are living through climate change now. It is no longer a forecast, projection, or prediction," Bowen said on Monday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is a lived reality. It is too late to avoid any impact now. But it's not too late to avoid the worst of the impacts."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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