Berejiklian Government backs Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s power cost cutting plan

THE Berejiklian government has announced it will support the implementation of Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee “without delay” following a Cabinet meeting this morning.

THE Berejiklian government has announced it will support the implementation of Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee “without delay” following a Cabinet meeting this morning.

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin had refused to commit to the energy policy ahead of tomorrow’s crucial meeting of the Council of Australian Governments.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has thrown her support behind Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee. Picture: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NEG will “lower power prices and secure a more reliable energy system for families and businesses across NSW”.

“I support lower power prices and a more reliable electricity system and that’s what the NEG is going to deliver,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“It is disappointing that Labor states are standing between the community and lower power prices. I urge all states to put the national interest ahead of their local political interests.

“As a nation we need investment certainty to make sure that businesses can invest in the next wave of electricity generation to keep our lights on, and I encourage all parties to act towards this goal.”

Mr Harwin said NSW has always argued for reliability and affordability to be “front and centre” of any national energy reforms.

NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin had refused to commit to the energy policy. Picture: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng

“That is why we support the National Energy Guarantee. A national approach to the energy market would increase certainty for investors and lower prices for customers,” he said.

The government said independent analysis showed the NEG would reduce power prices by $550 a year over the 2020s for a typical household.

Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will meet state and territory counterparts in Sydney tomorrow to discuss the policy’s final incarnation.

The NSW government has concerns the final version of the plan could contain surprise details to appease states such as Victoria, which has outlined a string of conditions to hold the government to ransom over the plan.

A spokeswoman for Mr Harwin yesterday said “a nat­ional approach to the energy market would increase certainty for investors and lower prices for customers”.

The NEG aims to combine the goals of reliable electricity and lower carbon emissions in a single policy.

Failure to support the scheme would be a blow for Prime Minister Turnbull. Picture: AAP

For the Coalition it is essential that the NEG gain COAG support.

Failure to support the scheme would be a blow for Prime Minister Turnbull, who lost the Liberal leadership in 2009 to Tony Abbott over his decision to endorse then-prime minister Kevin Rudd’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

The Tasmanian government yesterday confirmed it would back the NEG at Friday’s COAG meeting and called on jurisdictions holding out on changes such as Victoria and the ACT to come to the party.

“This is not the time to play politics with an issue that Australians want resolved,” Energy Minister Guy Barnett said.

“The NEG delivers lower power bills, reliability of supply while working towards a clean energy future.

“Labor states will play politics with this historic resolution at their peril. The government believes the NEG will deliver significant benefits for Tasmania.”

The South Australian government will also support the NEG with Premier Steven Marshall yesterday promising his unequivocal support.

“We’ve said we will support anything that is going to lower prices and improve the reliability of our grid in South Australia,” he said.