Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will face the biggest test of her authority in a series of crucial talks beginning Wednesday, as senior MPs expect the leader to side with a growing number of her troops pushing to dump the net zero target.

Tensions were high before Wednesday’s Liberal party room meeting in Canberra, with frontbencher Phillip Thompson, a veteran, saying it was a “kick in the guts” to cut short observing Remembrance Day and conservative Angus Taylor failing to categorically rule out a leadership tilt.

Moderates who support a watered-down 2050 target have been battling conservatives who think retaining net zero in any form will deny the Coalition the freedom to oppose Labor’s bumpy energy transition and expensive power bills.

Amid veiled threats from Moderate MPs to quit her f

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