Tuesday, 11 November 2025

E&OE

Peter Stefanovic:

Let’s keep that conversation going now with the Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tim Wilson. Good to see you this morning, Tim. So what's your argument going to be tomorrow and this week?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, I'm going to save that for the partyroom, but one of the things I am going to be very clear about is that we should be setting sovereign targets that work for Australia. One of the most bizarre things that has happened in the past week is that people seem comfortable, with the idea that we should abandon sovereign targets for Australia and choose globalist targets, like saying we should prioritise international treaties or OECD averages over targets that Australians decide for our country. I'm in the sovereign camp, I believe in targets we set for our national interests, not deferring to international institutions or globalist standards.

Peter Stefanovic:

So that sounds like Paris. What would you prefer, Paris or Net Zero?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, this is why I said it makes more sense to me that we set sovereign targets like net zero that we control, we define, and then we go on and develop a plan on how to implement on liberal principles, exactly as Angus Taylor said, than saying that we're going to turn around to parasol OECD averages. I find the idea that we would outsource to a globalist standard like the average of OECD emissions, frankly, bizarre. And I don't really see that that's a tolerable policy.

Peter Stefanovic:

So do you think that there needs to be a date set in stone?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, I've written previously that when we adopted net zero by 2050 and 2021, it was because we had a plan about how we're going to get there. It was built on things like the role of green hydrogen. Since then green hydrogen has collapsed. So we need to be honest about what's achievable and with what timeframe. So I'm understandable or understand why there needs to be a revisiting of the timeframe but has to be towards an intent of decarbonisation and towards a bigger objective.

Peter Stefanovic:

What does this mean for Goldstein Tim? How are you going to sell that to Goldstein for the next election?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, ultimately, it will come down to the policy put forward. But in the end, I'm going to benchmark these things against my record. You know the last time I was in office: Fact - you know we adopted a net zero target. Fact - we established an entirely new renewable energy industry. Fact - emissions went down in comparison to the climate 200 candidate. Fact - they broke their promise on emissions. Fact - they went on and voted for new coal and gas subsidies. Fact - emissions rose. So, there's a clear record of delivery there. The question is whether we can come to a clear policy position that we can take forward to show both intent and delivery.

Peter Stefanovic:

I don't know if you caught it but I spoke to Keith Wolahan who lost his seat of Menzies at the last federal election and this is what he had to say if net zero was abandoned. Let's just run this -

Keith Wolahan:

I hope that those that are in the room are turning their minds to seats like mine because when you look at what happened in the last two elections the Liberal Party lost 33 seats and 26 of those were in urban areas. I have great respect for the National Party, not only in their political success but as people, they're decent people. But they're not responsible for winning back those urban seats, the Liberal Party is. So the Liberal Party has to think very carefully, are the decisions they're going to make in the next few days, ones that will be read out on panels like this on election night in 2028 saying, oh, we got that wrong.

Peter Stefanovic:

What are your thoughts on that Tim?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, I agree completely with Keith. I mean, I am currently the only inner-urban Liberal in the entire Commonwealth of Australia. Tragically, I wish Keith was still the federal member for Menzies. I mean he's certainly a much better member than the current one. And we need to be selling a clear, bold, confident, optimistic Liberal vision for those communities so that we can win them back. And that's about building energy abundance. It's about how we're going to build the future of the Australian economy and it's one built on hope. But we need a compelling vision that we're going to sell and that comes down to one thing, leadership, and that's what I'm looking for out of this next few days. Leadership. Because that's going to be the difference between whether we get through this debate or not, and that's one of the things that I'm concerned about at the moment.

Peter Stefanovic:

Is that a warning to the leader Sussan Ley?

Tim Wilson MP:

I've said consistently I'm looking for leadership because that's the way through this debate. And it's very important that people step up, they rise to the challenge because we've got to take the whole of Australia forward together because that's the basis that we're going to be successful as a political movement and define ourselves for the 21st century.

Peter Stefanovic:

Is she the right leader to go forward for the Liberal Party?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, as I said already, that's what I'm looking for in the next coming days. But it's very clear to me that we need clear leadership to drive through this conversation. It's up to all of us to do that. And that's certainly the approach I'm going to be taking to make sure that we get through this conversation.

Peter Stefanovic:

That doesn't sound like a key endorsement?

Tim Wilson MP:

No, no, I'm happy to endorse the Leader. That's not the issue. What I'm saying is it's up to all of us to be part of that solution. If we're just going to break into tribal parts without any acknowledgement of the responsibility we hold to each other, we are going to find ourselves boxed into a very difficult position.

Peter Stefanovic:

Which would be?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, one where we can't come to a common agreement about how we're going to take the party forward together to actually govern the country. I'm not in politics because I want Labor and the Left and the Greens or anyone else to win. I want to be in a position where we can govern the county, define its future so we can have a Liberal democratic future that builds Australia, builds its future, and the next generation of Australians can look out to the horizon with confidence and hope because that's the fulfilment of the Liberal vision.

Peter Stefanovic:

Is there a Coalition future?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, absolutely there is working with the Liberal Party, but it has to be one that brings together both rural and regional Australia, the cities, and it has be one focused on defining Australia's future built off that which is mined and grown, that which has manufactured, and, of course, the services economy that dominates our capital cities.

Peter Stefanovic:

So there would have to be concessions made by The Nationals?

Tim Wilson MP:

I wouldn't look at it as part of concessions. I'd look at as part of how we're going to define the future together and us being practical, sensible. And how rural and regional areas work with cities, as it is about cities working with rural and regional areas.

Peter Stefanovic:

All right, it is a big week ahead indeed. Tim Wilson, always good to have you with us though. We'll chat to you again soon.

ENDS