Moderate Liberals push back against party move to oppose safeguard mechanism reform

In the lead up to the shadow cabinet and party room decision on the crediting legislation, the Coalition has faced public pressure from business groups to make looming reforms to the safeguard mechanism a bipartisan exercise.

In urging the Coalition to come to the table, Willox said last month the government crediting amendment bill would provide the legal clarity necessary for business investment, and he noted safeguard crediting had been proposed by the Morrison government before it lost the May election.

Bowen noted that reform was a recommendation of an expert panel appointed by the Morrison government.

The safeguard mechanism was introduced by the Coalition under Abbott, but the regulation has failed to stop industrial emissions rising.