Tony Abbott’s NEG warning: Australia ‘sleepwalking’ to deindustrialisation disaster

TONY Abbott has issued another dire warning about the National Energy Guarantee, saying it wll damage the economy just to “make the world a bit colder for our grandchildren”.

TONY Abbott has hit out at Coalition colleagues who “don’t rock the boat” as he warned the government was “sleepwalking toward de-industrialising” Australia.

The former Prime Minister also said Australians would not thank politicians for damaging the economy just to “make the world a bit colder for our grandchildren” as he doubled down on his threat to cross the floor to block the Turnbull Government’s National Energy Guarantee.

“I can absolutely understand why people say don’t rock the boat, don’t make life difficult,” Mr Abbott told Sydney shock jock Alan Jones on 2GB radio this morning.

“I can understand why business wants the quietest possible life. I can understand why my colleagues want a quiet life. In the end, we have a duty to speak up.”

Tony Abbott has hit out at Coalition colleagues who ignore their duty to the country and “don’t rock the boat” as he warned government was “sleepwalking toward de-industrialising” Australia. Picture: AAP

“The point I’ve been making for some time now is I’m not going to vote for something which I think is going to jeopardise our future.

“If that puts me in a singular position, then I will be in a singular position. My duty, our duty, is to do the right thing by future generations of Australians.”

Mr Abbott — who was one of just four MPs to voice concerns about the NEG in a Coalition party room meeting this week — said he thought the energy plan focused too much on reducing carbon emissions, and not enough on ensuring a reliable energy supply and lower power price.

National Party MPs are also increasingly voicing concerns about the plan.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time in the House of Representatives. Picture: AAP

“The only guarantee as I read it is that emissions will come down,” Mr Abbott told 2GB.

“There are a few pages on prices, there’s a few pages on boosting reliability and then there’s page after impenetrable page of the most appalling prose you’ll ever read which is all about reducing emissions.

“Now, I don’t mind reducing emissions but not if it drives your cost of living through the roof and not if it makes your job more precarious.

“This is the problem. We are damaging our economy in an attempt to save the planet in 100 years’ time.

“I don’t thank our children will thank us if we damage their future in order to make the world a bit colder for our grandchildren.”

The former PM said his fear was “that we are sleepwalking toward de-industrialising our country — and that would be disastrous.”

“We have got to get new coal-fired power into the system if we are going to be a country that continues to make things,” he said.

Twelve MPs spoke at the party room meeting on Tuesday in favour of the NEG, which aims to push down prices, cut carbon emissions and prevent blackouts by forcing energy retailers to meet a “reliability guarantee” and an “emissions guarantee”.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will take the plan to his state counterparts at a Coalition of Australian Governments meeting in August to secure their support.

The Minister will then have to put the legislation before federal Parliament, where he will need the backing of all Coalition MPs to pass the bill through the lower house if Labor does not back the plan.

Originally published as Tony Abbott’s NEG warning: Australia ‘sleepwalking’ to deindustrialisation disaster