Malcolm Turnbull goes on the attack over his signature NEG policy

Malcolm Turnbull has made his first election intervention by attacking the Coalition over the national energy guarantee.

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull has today come out in defence of his signature NEG policy. Picture by Damian Shaw

Malcolm Turnbull has made his first election intervention today by attacking the Coalition he once led over the national energy guarantee.

The former prime minister dropped his signature energy policy in a bid to hold onto power last year, but today said its abandonment would lead to “higher emissions and higher electricity prices.”

He also noted that his successor Scott Morrison “especially” supported the NEG.

“I see (Sky News host) @David_Speers is referring to the National Energy Guarantee as “Malcolm Turnbull’s NEG”. In fact the NEG had the support of the entire Cabinet, including and especially the current PM and Treasurer. It was approved by the Party Room on several occasions,” he tweeted.

“It had the support of the business community and energy sector in a way that no previous energy policy had. However a right wing minority in the Party Room refused to accept the majority position and threatened to cross the floor and defeat their own government.

“That is the only reason it has been abandoned by the Government. The consequence is no integration of energy and climate policy, uncertainty continues to discourage investment with the consequence, as I have often warned, of both higher emissions and higher electricity prices.”

I see @David_Speers is referring to the National Energy Guarantee as “Malcolm Turnbull’s NEG”. In fact the NEG had the support of the entire Cabinet, including and especially the current PM and Treasurer. It was approved by the Party Room on several occasions.

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) April 20, 2019

Mr Turnbull went on to single out Mr Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg as having “spent months arguing for the NEG on the basis that it would reduce electricity prices and enable us to lower our emission.s”

And before anyone suggests the previous tweet is some kind of revelation - all of the economic ministers, including myself, @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg spent months arguing for the NEG on the basis that it would reduce electricity prices and enable us to lower our emissions.

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) April 20, 2019

The development comes after Labor leader Bill Shorten today committed a future Labor government to legislating the national energy guarantee - even if it was opposed by the Coalition.

Labor had previously indicated it would only pursue the NEG if it received bipartisan support.

“We think that it is a good framework,” Mr Shorten said, when asked if Labor would pursue the policy if it was opposed by the Coalition but had majority support of the parliament.

“We will use some of the Turnbull, Morrison, Frydenberg architecture and we will work with that structure.”

Mr Turnbull has spoken out on his continued support for the NEG - and his criticism of the Prime Minister for not adopting it - several times but it is the first time he has attacked his former colleagues since the election was called.

Mr Morrison has been trying to both claim action on climate change and mount an attack on Labor’s lack of coatings for its climate policies.

Mr Shorten said he would pass the NEG but with a much higher emissions reduction target.