Tony Abbott has been labelled a power price hypocrite by senior colleagues who revealed he recently argued against imposing limits on gas exports and, as prime minister, fought calls by conservatives in cabinet to abolish the Renewable Energy Target.

Mr Abbott confirmed on Wednesday he will cross the floor to oppose any energy policy - including a modified clean energy target - that involved any subsidy for clean energy. Angry colleagues countered by revealing Mr Abbott spoke out in the party room recently against the government legislating to give itself a trigger to limit exports in a bid to increase the supply and lower the cost of domestic gas.