Malcolm Turnbull faces tough questions over energy policy

MORE questions are being asked about Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, but it is one decision he faces that could decide his future.

THE leadership rumblings have returned but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is refusing to panic as his colleagues skirmish over energy policy.

In fact it could be three months before the Prime Minister reveals what he wants to do with the source of the disquiet — findings by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel on electricity costs and security, and emissions management.

Despite the alarms being sounded about the fate of his leadership should the Government favour renewable energy over coal, Mr Turnbull is in no rush.

It might be as late as August or September before cabinet decides the Government’s official response to the report and its sensitive chapters on the future of fossil fuels.

It is understood cabinet will discuss the matter next week but no firm decision will be ready before Parliament rises for the six week Winter break.

Sources today told news.com.au Mr Turnbull does not feel pressured by a round of Coalition discussions — at times heated — on the Finkel findings.

Government sources argue that rather than being a threat to the Prime Minister, the closed-doors debates among Coalition back benchers on Tuesday was useful to him as his colleagues understood the issues better.

They point out the 400-page report had been available just five days before that and many MPs were still not across its details.

However, it is clear household power expenses and electricity reliability are the most important matters for back benchers. The matter of keeping emission reductions within the bounds of the Paris Accord doesn’t rate anywhere near as strongly.

Senior ministers including Treasurer Scott Morrison insisted the brief process was well in hand.

“I mean, understandably colleagues will want to go through the data, they’ll want to ask the questions,” said Mr Morrison.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, who is leading briefings on the findings, today indicated there was a long way to go yet when he told Sky News there would be “full and proper consideration”.

“There was an overwhelming view in the party room yesterday that business as usual was not an option,” said Mr Frydenberg.

“So we’ve actually made progress in that regard, in that people recognise we do have to change course. The fact is, we got strong support last night for a number of Finkel’s recommendations around getting three years notice of closure (of coal-fired power stations) and batter storage (for renewable energy).”