Tony Abbott threatens to cross the floor over Turnbull’s energy policy
TONY Abbott has held out a threat to cross the floor and vote against Malcolm Turnbull’s flagship energy policy after being in the minority during a lengthy party-room debate on the plan.
NSW
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TONY Abbott has held out a threat to cross the floor and vote against Malcolm Turnbull’s flagship energy policy after being in the minority during a lengthy party-room debate on the plan.
The former prime minister attempted to force a special meeting to discuss the details of the National Energy Guarantee before it was taken to state and territory leaders in August, and was backed by a number of other Coalition MPs including Eric Abetz and Barnaby Joyce.
But several other of his colleagues backed the plan, which forces emissions and reliability targets for energy retailers and threatens them with fines, including marginal seat MPs Ann Sudmalis and Julia Banks, who expressed concern that internal squabbling over the policy would sink the government.
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Speaking outside the meeting, Mr Abbott confirmed he was committed to crossing the floor if he did not agree with the final details of the NEG.
“My anxiety about the National Energy Guarantee is that it’s more about reducing emissions than it is about reducing prices,” he said.
Mr Abbott had previously suggested he could cross the floor, as has Liberal MP Craig Kelly.
The NEG must be agreed to at the next COAG meeting, and will return to the party room — which has already discussed the plan — for debate before being put to Parliament.