Backbench Clean Energy Target revolt no threat to PM’s job, Ministers say

ENERGY policy is polarising the Coalition, with reports of a partyroom row involving Tony Abbott and one National MP branding an unnamed colleague a ‘pissant’.

SENIOR government ministers have dismissed reports that Malcolm Turnbull could lose the top job over an emerging rift in the Liberal Party as pure gossip magazine fodder.

It comes after a fiery party room meeting last night where 22 Liberal MPs spoke out against a Clean Energy Target being considered by the Turnbull Government.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott — who has publicly warned the scheme is “effectively a tax on coal” — was the most outspoken of the backbenchers at the three hour meeting.

Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke told Sky News that reports of a partyroom row between Mr Abbott and frontbencher Craig Laundy had been exaggerated.

National Party MP Mark Coulton slammed the colleague who leaked the list of Coalition MPs who raised concerns about the Clean Energy Target as a “pissant”.

“I am on a list as ... some kind of climate change denier — that is nonsense,” he said.

“You have to understand, Finkel is a report to the government. It is not government policy.

“I belong to a party where we discuss these things, we don’t drink the Kool-Aid and blindly follow on championing some sort of mantra.”

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott — who has publicly warned the scheme is “effectively a tax on coal” — was the most outspoken of the backbenchers at the three hour meeting. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Most were concerned about potential electricity price hikes and the impact on coal-fired power stations.

One MP told Fairfax Media after the meeting: “Malcolm could lose his leadership over this if he doesn’t listen to us.”

The Prime Minister appeared unruffled by the party tensions today.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament House on NDIS funding, Mr Turnbull told reporters there had been broad agreement in the party room that “business as usual” on energy policy was not an option.

He said “glib answers and one liners” on energy policy had “been of no assistance in keeping Australians’ energy secure and affordable”.

“What Australians need is wise leadership not glib leadership,” he said.

“What Australians need is economics and engineering, not ideology and politics — they’ve had too much of that.”

Mr Turnbull refused to commit to a timeline for when the Coalition would announce a position on the Finkel report, saying the aim was to get it right.

Treasurer Scott Morrison laughed off reports the Prime Minister’s job was under threat this morning, saying: “Those sorts of assertions are better placed for New Idea than they are for reporting of news.”

“What we’re focused on is getting an outcome for the Australian people,” Mr Morrison said. The Treasurer, whose own stance on energy once saw him bring a lump of coal to Question Time to attack the Opposition’s position, said it was simply “the job of government” to work through difficult issues to get an outcome.

Treasurer Scott Morrison, who once brought a lump of coal to Question Time to attack the Opposition’s position, said it was simply “the job of government” to work through difficult issues to get an outcome. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“What there was yesterday was a clear consensus that if you stick to the status quo on energy policy then prices are going to go up which is going to hurt families, hurt households, hurt businesses, hurt the economy,” he said.

“Continuing to go down the business as usual approach on energy is not a good idea.

“I think there’s a clear consensus on that.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormman and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg also rejected claims that Mr Turnbull’s job could be under threat over the energy debate.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann described the meeting as a “courteous and professional discussion”. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Senator Cormann described the meeting as a “courteous and professional discussion”.

Asked on ABC radio this morning whether Mr Abbott was being deliberately destructive, the WA senator said all MPs, Senators and parties were “absolutely entitled to participate in this debate”.

But he rejected Mr Abbott’s claim that the CET was effectively “a tax on coal”.

“This is not a tax on coal,” Senator Cormann said.

“The biggest tax and the biggest cost we could impose on consumers and taxpayers is to do nothing.”

Opposition leader Bill Shorten today called on Mr Turnbull to “stare down the recalcitrants” in his party “who have held down climate policy in this country for 10 years”.

The Labor leader said the party wanted to work towards a bipartisan position on energy policy to give investors some certainty after a decade of political standoff.

Labor still wanted an Emissions Intensity Scheme but was open to looking at the Clean Energy Target, he said.

“We need to have certainty about our energy policy and our climate policy,” he said.

“All of the experts know that a lack of a clear energy policy is the greatest contributor to rising energy prices.”