This week also the Business Council of Australia, traditionally an opponent of ambitious climate action, announced it now supported a 46 to 50 per cent emissions cut by 2030, a measure it described as “economy wrecking” when proposed by Labor in 2018.

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This keeps it in line with groups such as the Energy Council of Australia, which represents the big energy generators, as well as retailers and all the major farming groups, the oil and gas lobby and the Minerals Council of Australia.

Even the News Corp newspapers, once viewed as a critical political hindrance to climate action, are now championing a mid-century net zero target.

So what changed to bring business into line - or closer in line – with community views?

Chief executive of the Carbon Market Institute John Connor traces the movement back to the introduction of the notion of “net zero” during the lead-up to the Paris climate talks. By being specific about the goal, governments and industries could no-longer hide behind “weasel words like ‘low carbon futures’.”

The recent declaration by Europe that it would introduce a tariff on emissions-heavy imports from countries that (like Australia) have no carbon price, only served to intensify that focus, he says.

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Director of the Australia Institute’s climate and energy program Richie Merzian believes the declaration earlier this year by the International Energy Agency that new renewable energy was now cheaper than new fossil energy also helped climate ambitions spill deeper into the business sector.

Whatever the cause, Connor now believes that a policy response is inevitable from the federal government, the question that remains is whether the speed and scale meets community, business and global expectations.