Anthony Albanese has failed to express his support for coal while in Queensland

Some MPs believe Anthony Albanese has changed his coal rhetoric, using language similar to that of Bill Shorten on Adani.

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese.

Anthony Albanese has failed to express his support for the coal sector while in Queensland amid internal concerns about a shift in rhetoric following the bushfires.

The Opposition Leader did not voice his backing of the export industry and the jobs it creates when he was asked to outline his position on coal at a press conference in Brisbane.

When asked what his view on coal was, Mr Albanese said “I have the same position everywhere” before talking up the future of renewables.

“We have an environmental approval process for any new projects,” Mr Albanese said.

“But the truth is as well that markets make decisions based upon economics. And the cheapest form of new energy in Australia is wind, is solar, there are new technologies as well.”

Mr Albanese spoke after a Sky News interview with Labor senator Murray Watt, who declared he had no “in-principle objection” to new thermal coal mines in the Galilee Basin.

Senator Watt, a Queensland Left frontbencher, also expressed opposition to taxpayer support of the industry but made clear a future Labor government would not stand in the way of new projects.

“I don’t have any in-principle objection to that kind of thing (new coal mines) happening,” Senator Watt said.

“This sort of decisions about whether new mines are open or not are for the companies involved to make those decisions.

“We have been very clear in saying we do not support a ban of coal exports.

“If companies are out there who think they can make a buck by opening new coal mines then that is a matter for them.”

Pro-resources Labor MPs believe Mr Albanese had changed his rhetoric on coal over summer and has adopted language similar to that used by Bill Shorten on the Adani issue.

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese and former leader of the opposition Bill Shorten.

In December, Mr Albanese paved the way for a shift in rhetoric by expressing Labor’s long-held policy that the party supports coal exports and jobs in the industry.

But by January he raised questions about the viability of new coalmines in the Galilee Basin.

In The Australian on Monday, Labor frontbencher Matt Keogh warned the party will struggle to win the support of workers across the resources sector — including in the West Australian iron ore and gas industries — if the party is viewed as hostile to coal.

Mr Albanese also lashed out at the government for contributing $4 million for a feasibility study for a new coal-fired power station in Collinsville.

“It is hush money for the climate change sceptics and those people on the backbench now, people like Matt Canavan, who essentially are trying to con people,” he said.

“For years they have been saying we are going to have a new coal-fired power plant but it hasn’t happened. There is nothing to stop it happening. They are the government.

“Australians deserve some straight talking rather than just politics on this issue.”