Fate of NEG hangs on Coalition party room meeting
THE fate of the Turnbull Government’s plan to solve Australia’s energy crisis hangs on the outcome of a Coalition party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
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THE fate of the Turnbull Government’s plan to solve Australia’s energy crisis hangs on the outcome of a Coalition party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
Federal, state and territory energy ministers met in Sydney yesterday and agreed that the National Energy Guarantee would not proceed unless the government party room supported laws to deliver it.
It sets the stage for a showdown in Canberra next week, with former prime minister Tony Abbott criticising the NEG as “bad policy” based on “fanciful” figures.
STATES AND TERRITORIES SUPPORT NEG
THE NATIONAL ENERGY GUARANTEE EXPLAINED
The move is a win for the Andrews Government and its Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who had made it clear Victoria would not sign up unless the plan can be legislated by the federal government.
But Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said yesterday’s Council of Australian Governments meeting was a “great step forward” for a policy he said would reduce household power bills by $550 a year.
“The National Energy Guarantee is in the national interest because it will deliver the investment certainty the sector needs, while lowering power bills, enhancing Australia’s economic competitiveness and strengthening the reliability of our energy system,” he said.
A communique from the meeting, released yesterday afternoon, said the ministers agreed to release an exposure draft of new laws to enact the NEG. That will happen after a teleconference next week, providing the Coalition party room endorses the legislation.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the NEG “needs more work”.
“We have always been clear — we won’t sign up to any scheme that threatens Victoria’s renewable energy industry and the thousands of jobs it’s creating in our state,” she said.
“We’ll continue to seek improvements to the NEG and carefully consider whatever comes out of Malcolm Turnbull’s party room.”
Victorian Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick accused the state government of playing politics and wrecking the national approach to cheaper power.
Industry groups welcomed yesterday’s developments, with Business Council chief Jennifer Westacott saying it was time to “put to an end to a decade of dysfunctional debate over energy and climate change policy in Australia”.
“Energy ministers were constructive in their discussions today on the framework. For the first time in years a workable solution to our energy policy woes is within reach,” she said.
Originally published as Fate of NEG hangs on Coalition party room meeting