The Wentworth byelection result demonstrates Liberal voter support at the next election should not be taken for granted.

Many Liberal voters don’t share the government’s woefully immoral position on climate change or the way that its policies seem to be for sale.

Many Liberals want the party to change its position on climate change. Many of us can’t understand how any sensible business orientated party can ignore the obvious climate science or the very obvious climate economics.

The cost of playing “climate catch up” will be greater and the loss of opportunity also greater by delaying action. Australia has a global competitive advantage in a low carbon world and it is in our self interest that we achieve this.



If the party will not listen (and many of us have tried to fight from the inside) climate conscious Liberal independents will stand at the next election to ensure that Liberal voters can express their displeasure at the current position of the Liberal party.

Should climate conscious Liberals stand as independents in Liberal seats and draw away just 20% of the primary Liberal vote, then many safe Liberal seats will be at risk.



Many members of the Liberal party share a deep concern for the environment.



Many potential members are discouraged from joining the party as they do not see membership consistent with their belief in the importance of good environmental management.



We know that a healthy environment and a sound economy are both essential to our nation’s current and future prosperity. We know that we can and must preserve both our environment and our economy for current and future generations of Australians.



The Liberal party has historically been a party conscious of the environment. We need to maintain and build on that tradition. This tradition is strong and includes the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Uluru National Park, Kakadu National Park, the cessation of sand mining on Fraser Island and nominations of those areas for World Heritage, and the National Heritage Trust.



As Liberals we need to change the view that being environmentally conscious is inconsistent with being an active member of the party.



I am deeply upset by the Liberal parties environmental position. If you mention “environment/climate change/emissions management” and “Liberal” in the same sentence at best, “don’t compute” flashes up. At worst “hypocrite” springs to mind. This is not acceptable.



The prime minister’s marketing strategy for coal must end and be replaced by policies that work to secure the planet for current and future generations.

The prime minister’s marketing strategy for coal must end

A quality of life that is prosperous, healthy and environmentally sound (for the people)

Clean, efficient and profitable businesses and industries (for business)

Sound and enforceable environmental laws that balance the risks and opportunities of tomorrow with the profit motive of today (solid and effective law and government)

Sustainable economic development for all, where the needs and desires of communities are pursued in balance with – as opposed to in competition with – the environment (achieving balance)

“Real Growth” where economic targets like GNP growth are supplemented by additional measures (much as in the “balanced scorecard” approach to measuring business performance), and are calculated taking account of all social costs (including externalities and the value of finite resources consumed)

Appropriate government policies, including the identification and removal of government interventions that produce perverse environmental outcomes, including subsidies (setting the right policies)

After the IPCC report was released, containing scientific certainty of the complete loss of the Great Barrier Reef if action was not taken, the prime minister dismissed it like he would a blowfly. It is a disgrace.

Claiming Liberal disunity is the death of the party is irrelevant. Scott Morrison is so wrapped in self interest, advertising and spin he fails to see that loss at the next election is a price many Liberals are prepared to pay if that is what it takes trigger real change to reinstate our legacy of good environmental and economic management.

Remember the party can be repaired, but the planet and environment we leave our children cannot.

• Oliver Yates is a member of the Liberal party and former CEO of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation