Scott Morrison has shut down the push by restless Queensland Nationals MPs to have Parliament vote on new powers to break up power companies before the election, saying his priority is legislating the budget and flood recovery measures for the Sunshine State.

As well as reviving the so-called "big stick" legislation, the six MPs want the government to lock in underwriting a new power generation project – most likely a clean-coal power station – in regional Queensland to ease pressure on prices before the election.