Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg vows to keep coal burning saying it’s a ‘critical component’ of our energy supply
A GROUP of Coaltion MPS today denied the PM is facing a backbench revolt to his leadership over coal-fired power as he stares down a 30th Newspoll defeat.
NSW
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A GROUP of Coaltion MPS today denied the PM is facing a backbench revolt to his leadership over coal-fired power as he stares down a 30th Newspoll defeat.
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg vowed coal will not be “demonised” under the National Energy Guarantee, as the group of Coalition MPs threaten a boycott of the plan unless a new coal power station is built.
The gang of up to 30 MPs — including Craig Kelly, George Christensen, Kevin Andrews, Ian Goodenough, Tony Pasin, Nicole Flint and Jonathon Duniam — call themselves “The Monash Group” and have been in discussion for two months.
ENERGY COSTS HURTING OUR ECONOMY
But Mr Kelly today denied the group’s creation was designed to coincide with Mr Turnbull’s expected looming 30th Newspoll loss.
“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has my full support,” Mr Kelly said.
“He’s doing a very good job under very difficult circumstances and we will see those polls tighten right up as we get closer and closer to the election.”
Asked if coal isn’t given a more prominent role in the national energy guarantee whether Mr Turnbull will continue to have his support, Mr Kelly said: “He will.” “At the end of the day we are a team,” he said.
Sky News host Peta Credlin last night revealed they’re circulating a letter for MPs to sign to demand there is government intervention to guarantee new private sector investment in coal fired power.
Mr Frydenberg told The Daily Telegraph he would not “demonise” coal like other green-left political groups. He said it was a “critical component” of our energy supply today and into the future.
“Under the NEG there will be no new taxes or trading schemes and it will be technology neutral in its approach, given the need for reliability in our system,” he said. “Coal offers the opportunity for reliable baseload power to our system.”
Mr Frydenberg is battling competing ideologies as he seeks to secure support for the NEG, with the ACT Government claiming it is anti-renewable.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly said about 30 MPs have dubbed themselves “The Monash Group”, after World War One General, Sir John Monash, who was the architect of Victoria’s electricity network when he returned from the war
“What we would like to see is being supportive of the NEG as a principle, but the parameters of that are very important ... the market won’t invest in a 30 year return (on coal) when there’s uncertainty of a green-left government coming in,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Kelly said subsidies for renewable energy would cost $20 billion by 2022.