Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised "clean coal" power stations but declined to give any assurance that the government would fund one, saying the government's preference is for the market to choose.

Asked if he would be happy for the taxpayer to fund new "high efficiency, low emissions" (HELE) coal plant - as his ministerial colleagues Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce have urged - Mr Turnbull said "well clearly, it's always better if the market delivers all of these solutions".