17 November 2025
Sarah Abo
Well, despite finally firming up the Liberal party’s position on net zero, more difficult days lay ahead for Sussan Ley. Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien and chief political correspondent for The Age and SMH, Paul Sakkal. Good morning to you both. Teddy, let’s start with you, before we get into the week to come I just wanted to ask you where you’ve been it feels like we barely heard peep from you these past couple of turbulent days in the Coalition?
Ted O’Brien
Sarah, look, I’ve missed you too, but we’re chatting today, and I look forward to saying a fair bit during this week, especially now that only yesterday we settled our policy on climate and energy and so my colleagues and I are really looking forward to the week ahead.
Sarah Abo
Did you abandon your leader though, Teddy? I mean, you are her deputy, and you flipped on your position on net zero. What’s going on?
Ted O’Brien
No, look I think what Sussan led through the party room was a very open discussion and the Liberal Party is like that, people can speak from the heart, and ultimately the majority comes to a conclusion. And that’s what took place here. And I think the settlement we came to was the right one. At the end of the day the idea of net zero by 2050 is a big fat lie of the Labor Party. They’re prepared to bankrupt the country to get there, and we’ve taken the decision to oppose it absolutely.
Sarah Abo
Did you sell out Ted?
Ted O’Brien
Well I think the only one who’s selling out is Anthony Albanese, Chris Bowen and Jim Chalmers, by continuing this facade that they’re going to achieve net zero by 2050, Sarah, you know, I can’t find anyone by the Labor Party who actually believes they’re going to get there.
Sarah Abo
Well, you did-
Ted O’Brien
No, no, I’ve never supported Labor’s approach. They will not get there. They pretend they will, but they just spend money. It’s their sort of pretend and spend strategy and Australians deserve better. And the coalition has come to a very firm, definitive position. We will oppose it.
Paul Sakkal
It was Coalition policy for many years, 2050.
Ted O’Brien
It was indeed Paul and Labor is now in government as the years go by, they have worsened the situation. And Paul, you’re right it was our policy for a period of time. We reduced emissions. We got prices down. Under Labor prices are going up, and they can’t even get emissions down. The clock is ticking. The country is getting poorer and weaker, and we’re taking a stand, and we’re proud of it.
Sarah Abo
Paul, does this do you reckon, from your perspective, have legs long term? I mean, it’s already annoyed a lot of the Liberal leaders in the states too.
Paul Sakkal
I think there is an opportunity for the Liberals if they get their house in order, as Ted says, prosecute Labor on this issue. But I think the difference there’s some Liberals who are talking about the carbon tax campaign of Tony Abbott and comparing this one to that. I think the difference with the carbon tax was there was an obvious singular point, policy point that Tony Abbott was able to talk about every day that had a hip pocket conception around it. Net zero is not something many people understand as something that’s directly affecting their daily habits. So if the Coalition is able to make that case, possibly, but it’s a pretty tough sell when you can’t convince people that the end point you’re getting to is green future that’s in line with majority opinion.
Sarah Abo
Yeah, no, I think you’re right. There’s probably a bit of fatigue out there as well. But it is interesting. I’m sort of watching this bouncing ball. It seems that Liberals are obviously following the Nationals. You’re also matching their dress codes to this image of Sussan Ley and David Littleproud spot the difference. I mean, talk about a united front Teddy. You’re matching each other as well. You’re consulting on wardrobe choices now?
Ted O’Brien
Oh, look, I’ve always wanted to look like a National party person, Sarah. So who knows. Look, at the end of the day, we’re a united coalition, if that’s what you’re getting at, absolutely, I’m not sure about wearing the same school uniform, but we are a united Coalition. Well, you’re certainly
Ted O’Brien
Well, you’re certainly looking a lot like the Nat’s, you are even following their immigration policy, now that’s your next thing.
Ted O’Brien
Well, there’s no doubt that certainly have got to get immigration right, because under the Albanese government’s been out of control. I think Australians know that. You know, Australians are stuck in traffic this morning as they go to work, they go to school. Why? Well, this government has let go of the immigration policy. I mean, you don’t bring in over a million people in a two year stint and then think that it’s not going to have an impact on housing, on transport, all of these things, and only the Coalition has historically gotten immigration right, and we’ll do it again, Sarah.
Sarah Abo
Paul immigration was, of course, the catalyst for Andrew Hastie quitting the Coalition front bench so that he could speak more liberally about it. He slowly, though, it seems, making his way back into the fold, a number of Liberal moderates reportedly backing him to be the party’s next leader. What do you make of that?
Paul Sakkal
Yeah, there are mixed views inside the moderates on who they would back on the right, obviously, the two candidates are Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie. Hastie has made a number of really sharp, sometimes insensitive comments on abortion, immigration, which. Have upset some moderates, but there is a lot of antipathy towards Angus Taylor, particularly among New South Wales moderates who control about five or six key votes. So it will be an interesting contest to see which moderates start cleaving towards either Taylor or Hastie but there’s another kind of dark horse in the race who doesn’t get that much attention, who might be on screen at the moment.
Sarah Abo
Look Teddie, the polls aren’t looking good. Is it your time?
Ted O’Brien
Well, I didn’t know Paul was announcing his running today, but Paul, congratulations on making the decision.
Paul Sakkal
Good pivot.
Ted O’Brien
You do have to become a member of parliament first and a member of the Liberal Party.
Paul Sakkal
Have you got a seat for me?
Sarah Abo
Paul, come on, you’re more valuable in the media.
Paul Sakkal
But Ted, that was a non answer.
Sarah Abo
It was a non answer, a very obvious non answer, Ted.
Ted O’Brien
Well let me give you an answer. We have a leader. Her name is Sussan Ley.
Paul Sakkal
For now.
Ted O’Brien
She has my support. She takes to the next election.
Sarah Abo
All right. Well, look. The other contender, of course, is Angus Taylor. On the weekend, he confessed that his favourite movie is The Devil Wears Prada, which I thought was a little bit odd. He said, apparently that fashion and politics is otherwise very well aligned. I wasn’t quite sure, but Teddy as the potential next leader of the Liberal Party, what is your favourite movie?
Ted O’Brien
Look, I’m split, to be honest, Goodwill Hunting, or the Blues Brothers, somewhere in between those two. I think that says a lot.
Sarah Abo
Paul, what do you reckon?
Paul Sakkal
Well, I note on the Devil Wears Prada that there’s a sequel coming out in May next year. So I wonder if Angus Taylor’s created a bit of forward sizzle to time his run for the sequel. My favorite movie, though, I wanted to pick a pick one that fits the theme is there will be blood. And there definitely will be blood.
Sarah Abo
There will be blood as predicted here on The Today Show by Paul Sakkal. Guys. Teddy, thank you so much for joining us both this morning. I really appreciate it.
ENDS