There is a party-wide tension between maintaining the net-zero commitment and pursuing political strategy in urban areas where the Liberals face vote-share challenges.

Zempilas has clashed with Hastie over net zero, including Hastie’s motion at a WA state conference to scrap the target.

West Australian Opposition Leader Zak Zempilas argues the Liberal party should retain a net zero emissions target, linking climate action to electoral defeats in Western Australia and urging the party to listen to voters on the issue.

The broader federal Liberal party is debating climate policy in response to changing electoral pressures and internal divisions, with shifts potentially on the table.

Zempilas frames net zero as part of environmental stewardship rather than a blanket mandate, cautioned against pursuing the policy at any cost.

Moderates are pressing leader Sussan Ley to keep net zero amid concerns about urban-vote impacts and overall party popularity.

National discussions on climate policy include talk of dropping net zero by 2050, with notable conservatives like Andrew Hastie and Ted O’Brien opposing the stance.

Zempilas told Radio 6PR that abandoning net zero would be unwise and not sensible, saying only a “mug” would ignore recent election lessons.

Local electoral dynamics in WA influence the Liberal position, with Zempilas’ Churchlands seat and the nearby independent hold in Curtin shaping climate policy considerations.