Federal poll 2022: Liberal Celia Hammond says she’s ‘cranky’ at how her party is selling climate credentials

Liberal MP Celia Hammond has said she is “cranky” with her party’s inability to effectively sell its credentials on climate action to voters during a business industry debate. Ms Hammond is in the political fight of her life to retain what should be the safe seat of Curtin in Perth’s affluent Western Suburbs. Curtin is held by the Liberals on a margin of 13.9 per cent. But the blue-ribbon seat is considered to be at risk of falling to independent Kate Chaney, backed by Simone Holmes à Court’s Climate 200 group. Ms Chaney – who briefly joined the Labor Party last year – is campaigning on a platform of stronger action on climate change and integrity in politics to sway voters in Perth’s wealthiest suburbs. On Thursday, Ms Hammond conceded she was “cranky” with the federal Liberal Party for “not selling the message that we are doing things” on climate change. Her comments are likely to infuriate Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has had to defend the internal Coalition war on climate action throughout the election campaign. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan last month declared “net-zero by 2050” was “essentially dead” – an assertion that was quickly shot down by Mr Morrison. “This is critical of my party and my government, I don’t think that we’ve actually sold what we’ve been doing on climate change very well,” Ms Hammond said during the debate. “People don’t understand the commitments that we have made and the policy framework and what we’re investing in. . . $22 billion is going to be spent before 2030, investing in renewable technology. “Focusing on hydrogen (energy), on carbon capture and storage, on batteries. . . on clean soil, on lower emissions aluminium and steel.” Ms Hammond went as far to say Australia could “meet and beat” net-zero “well before” 2050. Ms Chaney said she had no confidence the Morrison Government would be able to meet its emission reduce targets. “We really need to look at global comparison and consistently Australia is ranked at the very bottom of the pile in terms of its climate action plan,” Ms Chaney said. Ms Hammond went as far to say Australia could “meet and beat” net-zero “well before” 2050. Ms Chaney said she had no confidence the Morrison Government would be able to meet its emission reduce targets. “We really need to look at global comparison and consistently Australia is ranked at the very bottom of the pile in terms of its climate action plan,” Ms Chaney said. Exclusive polling, carried out by Utting Research for The West Australian, last month found that 77 per cent of Curtin voters supported immediate action on climate change. The Coalition has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has aspirations to cut emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Labor is pledging a 43 per cent cut in emissions by 2030 as it aims for net-zero by 2050. Despite the Coalition’s fears of a “teal wave” sweeping across traditionally Liberal inner-city seats throughout the country, YouGov polling released by The Australian on Monday found Ms Chaney would win only 14 per cent of the primary vote in Curtin to Ms Hammond’s 41 per cent. That result would give the Liberals a six per cent margin over Labor come election day.