The federal Coalition will look at relaxing Labor’s safeguard mechanism on heavy carbon emitters if elected, under a plan aimed at bolstering business and also facilitating the supply of gas as an interim solution to the energy price crisis.

Peter Dutton and his senior shadow ministers confirmed on Sunday that a Coalition government would fast-track approvals and remove other regulatory hurdles to boost the supply of gas, saying it was a more sustainable approach than ladling out billions of dollars more in discounts for consumers.