PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison reinforces coal commitment, Bill Shorten steers clear
Scott Morrison says he would back any jobs from a new coal-fired power station in central Queensland as Labor attempts to exploit divisions in Coalition ranks.
- Albanese warns of coronavirus ‘racism’
- ABC ‘should stick to charter’
- ‘Sick of appeasing Nat tantrums’
- Canavan admits differences with McCormack
- Albanese holds back on coal
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.
Attention is back on Nationals turmoil and how it will distract the government, after Labor and a group of Nats rebels embarrassed the Coalition on Monday, throwing fresh speculation on Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s leadership of his party.
Greg Brown 7.51pm: Morrison backs coal as key jobs provider
Scott Morrison says he would back any jobs from a new coal-fired power station in central Queensland as Labor attempts to exploit divisions in Coalition ranks over government support for a new generator in Collinsville.
The Prime Minister refused to take a position on whether he would agree to a request from Shine Energy to provide indemnity against climate risk if the Collinsville project goes ahead, which Australian Industry Group estimates could cost $17 billion.
“I know where Collinsville is, (Labor) might not. I know where the jobs are in Collinsville also,” Mr Morrison told parliament on Wednesday.
Richard Ferguson 4.33pm: ‘This government is not going to do it’
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten says he does not believe the Morrison government will hold a referendum on constitutional recognition by the end of this current parliamentary term.
“I support recognition, but this government is not going to do it. Life is too short to waste time talking about things this government is not going to do. I’m not holding my breath,” he told ABC News.
“I know Ken Wyatt is coming from a good place, but I have seen the way the conservatives handle constitutional recognition.
“They keep pretending that we’re going to give our First Nations people special rights, we’re not, we’re going to include them on the nation’s birth certificate.
“So I’m afraid this government has lowered my expectations to just about nil on whether or not they do anything on constitutional recognition.”
Richard Ferguson 4.30pm: Shorten steers clear of coal debate
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has refused to say whether he would support a coal-fired power station if there was a business case for one and the investors did not ask for taxpayer funds.
“The only proposal which seems to have any legs at all is that the government will underwrite a taxpayer-funded coal-fired power station. That’s the only proposition on the table and Labor wouldn’t invest any taxpayer money in that,” he told ABC News.
“It is a hypothetical and we know that one of the great stalling tactics of the climate sceptics of the government — and they did it to some effect in the last election — was, you know, putting up these hypothetical propositions.
“I agree with something that the previous interviewee said. We have got to start thinking about the future. You and I know that this government is so divided that they have got to placate the climate sceptics with taxpayer-funded coal-fired power stations.”
Mr Shorten’s comments are the latest in a series of contradictions from senior Labor figures on a new coal-fired power station.
Anthony Albanese earlier today said he would not support a new coal station “full stop”, but labor deputy leader Richard Marles said on Sunday that Labor would not stand in the way of one if it did not require government investment.
Richard Ferguson 3.40pm: PM reinforces coal commitment
Scott Morrison has used question time to firmly back coal jobs, as Labor attacked the government on the proposed Collinsville power plant and the divisions in the Coalition over climate change.
The Prime Minister sustained multiple attacks from the Opposition on his handling of the economy and climate divisions.
When asked if he would give the Collinsville plant indemnity against climate risk if it ever goes ahead, Mr Morrison said that he would back any jobs that come out of a coal-fired power station.
“I know where Collinsville is, you mightn’t. I know where the jobs are in Collinsville also,” he told the House. “They are the jobs you want to take away.
“Our government believes in jobs. We believe in jobs in North Queensland. We believe in jobs in northern Tasmania. We believe in jobs in Western Australia.
“And I can tell the House that we are united on the need to ensure that we meet our emissions reduction targets, not by increasing taxes on people, not by putting up people’s electricity prices, and not by walking away from the jobs of Australians in rural and regional areas.”
Labor spent most of question time hitting the government on sluggish economic growth and Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers questioned its stance that coronavirus and the bushfires were behind the deterioration in the economy.
“Why does the Treasurer pretend that weakness in the economy is entirely due to the fires and coronavirus, when before they hit, this Liberal Government was already presiding over weakened slowing growth with a one in front of it,” Dr Chalmers said.
“Stagnant wages growth, high underemployment, declining business investment and falling productivity, well below-average consumer and business confidence, and record net debt and record household debt.”
Elias Visontay 3.13pm: ‘They are the jobs you want to take away’
Labor’s climate change and energy spokesman Mark Butler asks Scott Morrison about the proposed Collinsville coal power plant which the government has commissioned a $4 million feasibility study into.
“The proponents of the Collinsville coal power plant have said it will require a taxpayer indemnity from carbon risk which the Australian Industry Group says could cost taxpayers $17 billion. Will the Prime Minister provide that indemnity?”
The Prime Minister says: “I know where Collinsville is, you mightn’t. I know where the jobs are in Collinsville also.
“They are the jobs you want to take away, the Leader of the Opposition.”
Speaker Tony Smith tells Mr Morrison he must address the specific question about the indemnity, and he responds:
“What I was seeking to do was to say that the feasibility study of the Collinsville project was what the government has committed to undertake. The matter that the member has raised with me in this question is not currently before the government. It’s not currently before the government. It is not before us.”
Richard Ferguson 3pm: Labor’s cruel hoax
Labor resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon asks Scott Morrison if he will consider a minimum milk price.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud declares the policy “populist politics” and says the Labor Party are adopting the ideas of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
“The ACCC gave back a report that actually said it shouldn’t do that but in fact we should have a dairy code of conduct, one in which this government is putting in place,” Mr Littleproud says.
“This is about ensuring that populous politics and the policies of One Nation are not adopted by the Labor Party.
“This reckless, reckless cruel hoax to dairy farmers that are doing it tough is something I didn’t think I would see, particularly the last time that we had a floor price was for wool.
“It was for wool. And how did that work out? That ended up being a stockpile, an oversupply.
“Now they have turned around and gone with the economic advice of One Nation. That is what the economic credentials of the Australian Labor Party has become, nothing more than a cruel hoax.”
Elias Visontay 2.55pm: Albanese needs a GPS to explain his policy: PM
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison if a Minister for Resources statement that says there is a “real risk particularly with solar panels and lithium batteries, that they could turn out to be this generation’s asbestos” reflects the government’s policy.
The Prime Minister responds by saying: “I quote the Minister for Resources, he has a lot of common sense. He says ‘as an electrical engineer, I can tell you solar panels don’t work in the dark.’ Well, that’s a simple statement of fact.”
Labor MPs sarcastically applaud Mr Morrison.
“We can’t have the entire Australian economy relying on the weather.
“If you’re putting all your eggs in one basket on intermittent renewals, you cannot support jobs in heavy industry.
“Now, the Leader of the Opposition needs a GPS to explain his policy, Mr Speaker. He’s got one policy on climate in north Queensland and another one down in Melbourne.
“They (Labor) can’t even tell you what their 2030 target is. And if you ask the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party, normally so eloquent at this dispatch box, as he comes and gives each audition without notes, you ask him about coal, Mr Speaker, and his tongue wraps around his head,” Mr Morrison says.
Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: Katoomba Headspace funding depends on demand: Hunt
Labor MP Susan Templeman asks Scott Morrison when the Katoomba headspace centre in her electorate of Macquarie will be upgraded to a full service.
Health Minister Greg Hunt responds and says extra funding will depend on demand.
“If demand exceeds what is provided for then we will provide that additional funding. So, that will be demand-driven in the case of Katoomba,” he says.
“If demand exceeds what is currently provided, we will meet that demand in full.”
Rosie Lewis 2.42pm: Chester defends regional meeting
Nationals MP Darren Chester has defended a party meeting held in regional Victoria last year to coincide with the Melbourne Cup, declaring the party met regularly outside the cities to “focus on the communities we represent”.
The meeting was criticised by Liberal National Party MP Llew O’Brien, who slammed the Nationals culture after making the shock decision to quit the party over Michael McCormack’s leadership.
Held on November 1 in Nagambie, about two hours north of Melbourne, the meeting came ahead of Derby Day on November 2 and the Melbourne Cup on November 5.
“I had meetings with local veterans’ communities throughout the day leading up to it and then we had our party meeting where we discussed our strategy going forward as a party. I think that finished on the Friday,” Mr Chester told Sky News.
“Then I went back to my electorate for three days and on my way to Melbourne to fly overseas I attended the Melbourne Cup for three hours on the first Tuesday of November. There’s a three-day gap between the two events you’re referring to.
“Parties have to meet. We choose to meet as a National Party regularly in regional areas so that our focus is on the communities we represent. If you have meetings in this place here in Canberra all the time they get distracted by the normal activities at the building so we try and get to places where we focus on long-term strategies for regional Australia and come up with policy decisions which we think are good for regional areas.
“I’ve been a member of parliament now for 12 years, I think we’ve had one of those meetings at least once a year since then.”
The Nationals leader’s office said the November 1 meeting was a “planning day” to discuss how best to deliver for regional Australia.
Elias Visontay 2.41pm: ‘First balanced budget in 11 years’
Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg if net debt has reached “a new record high and that most of that is Liberal debt accumulated under the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government?”
The Treasurer does not answer directly, saying “we have delivered the first balanced budget in 11 years.”
“The net debt is $392.3 billion in 2019-20, at 19.5 per cent, Mr Speaker. As a percentage of GDP.
“I can also confirm to the House that when we came to government, debt was rising by more than 30 per cent per year.
“The reality is that Labor inherited a pristine balance sheet.
“After the Coalition, after John Howard and Peter Costello had managed the public’s finances, there was a $20 billion surplus and no net debt, Mr Speaker. By the time Labor left office, it had left behind $240 billion in accumulated deficit, with debt growing by almost 35 per cent.”
Richard Feguson 2.30pm: ’Why don’t you have a plan?’
Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg why the government “doesn’t have a plan” to boost business investment.
The Treasurer says business investment outside the mining industry has risen under the Coalition, while it fell under the Rudd-Gillard Labor government.
“Now, the Governor of the Reserve Bank made a very interesting speech last week, and what he said was that the fundamentals of the Australian economy were, in his words, ‘very strong’, Mr Speaker,” Mr Frydenberg says.
“The strong fundamentals include world-class endowments of natural resources, a highly skilled and innovative workforce, an established and predictable regulatory system, sound public finances, a diverse and growing population, and being well-placed to benefit from the strong growth in Asia ...
“So, why is it only the Labor Party who’s constantly talking down the Australian economy, Mr Speaker?
“It’s because the Labor Party are only interested in the politics of the economy, not the jobs that the economy creates, not in boosting the livelihoods of hardworking Australians.”
Elias Visontay 2.25pm: PM quizzed on Tas fire season
Independent Andrew Wilkie asks Scott Morrison if the government has adopted a “forward-leaning approach” to the Tasmanian bushfire season, and whether he will allow Coalition members a free vote on Zali Stegall’s proposed climate action bill.
The Prime Minister responds by thanking former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman for his work through the summer, and says he has been working closely with new Premier Peter Gutwein since he took office.
“I can assure the member that the commissioners and chief officers of the Strategic Committee and their emergency meetings had met on nine occasions,” Mr Morrison says.
‘I can advise the Australian Defence Force established a joint task force responsible for
Tasmania and South Australia on 3 January 2020,”
“The ADF teams conducted an analysis of the likely evacuation locations, including amphibious landing zones, which obviously prove safe-critical in the evacuations that were taken place out of Victoria. Briefings on ADF capabilities available to state authorities were provided by the commanding officer of the 12th and 40th Royal Tasmanian Regiment, and Commanding Officer 24 Support Battalion to the state and regional emergency committees.”
Richard Ferguson 2.20pm: Frydenberg lists economy policies
Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg if both the government and international financial bodies have downgraded the nation’s economic growth projections, and why he has not done more to boost growth.
The Treasurer reminds Dr Chalmers that the International Monetary Fund expects Australia to grow faster than a swag of comparable nations including Great Britain and Germany.
Mr Frydenberg also outlines a raft of policies to boost the economy.
“The honourable member asked the support that we were giving to the Australian economy. Well, I can confirm, in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which was released just prior to Christmas, we announced the bringing forward of $4.2 billion in funding and spending on infrastructure, Mr Speaker,” Mr Frydenberg says.
“And we announced more than half a billion dollars extra for aged care, Mr Speaker. And since the election, we’ve announced about $1.3 billion of commitments over and above what had previously been announced in relation to responding to the drought, Mr Speaker.
“And those on this side of the House know that we announced a $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which was on top of the payments and allowances which we provide from the Commonwealth through the states.”
Elias Visontay 2.15pm: Treasurer quizzed over pre-fire economy
Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg about the state of Australia’s economy before the summer’s bushfire crisis and the outbreak of coronavirus.
“This Liberal Government was already presiding over weakened slowing growth with a one in front of it, stagnant wages growth, high underemployment, declining business investment and falling productivity, well below-average consumer and business confidence, and record net debt and record household debt,” Labor’s treasury spokesman asks.
The Treasurer responds by defending the Coalition’s economic performance, including touting the projected budget surplus.
“We have the first current account surplus in more than 40 years, Mr Speaker. We have the lowest welfare dependency in 30 years, Mr Speaker. We have the biggest tax cuts in more than 20 years, Mr Speaker. And we have the first balanced budget in 11 years,” he says.
“Under Labor, in their last four budget outcomes, the budget deteriorated by about $80
billion. Whereas our last four budgets, we’ve seen improvement of over $10 billion, Mr Speaker. So, growth continues under the Australian economy. We’ve seen more jobs created.”
Richard Ferguson 2.04pm: PM insists govt is united
Anthony Albanese opens up question time and asks Scott Morrison if he agrees with Liberal MP Kevin Andrews who said this morning “if you can’t govern yourself, you can’t govern the nation.”
The Prime Minister says the government is united, despite a recent leadership spill in the Nationals and government MPs voting against his preferred candidate for deputy speaker.
“I can assure the House that this Government is united on the need to lower taxes, Mr Speaker. I can assure the House the Government is united on the need to build infrastructure, as we are,” Mr Morrison says.
“That we’re united on the need, Mr Speaker, to build the dams, that is climate action now, Mr Speaker. I can say,
“Mr Speaker, the Government is united on the need to continue to expand our trade borders, as we have done, Mr Speaker, and increased the amount of trade.”
This morning, Mr Andrews — a former defence minister — quoted the late Bob Hawke in response to recent splits within the Nationals.
“As Bob Hawke once said: ‘If you can’t govern yourselves, you can’t govern the country,’” Mr Andrews said.
“My message to all of my coalition colleagues is unity, unity, unity”
Olivia Caisley 1.44pm: PM calls for unity
Scott Morrison has issued a rallying cry and called for unity among the Coalition’s ranks after a turbulent couple of months.
The Prime Minister told colleagues in the government’s partyroom meeting on Tuesday they needed to remember they were voted for by the people, to represent the people, and needed to act accordingly.
“I’m not, we are, no individual is, we together are a government,” Mr Morrison said according to a government spokesman. “The people who supported us, we owe it to them to continue to deliver for them and to deliver what we promised in terms of tax relief, economic growth, and other policies including a stable government that is focused on them. That’s the contract we have with the Australian people.”
Mr Morrison urged his colleagues to think of the public because “when they are foremost in our minds, then we do our best for them.”
The calls for unity were echoed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg who quoted former prime minister John Howard’s adage of the Liberal Party as a “broad church”, but joked they sometimes need to get the builder to “bring in another pew or two.”
Nationals MP Llew O’Brien spectacularly quit the Nationals earlier this week over Mr McCormack’s leadership and his failure to promote any of his opponents after he defeated Barnaby Joyce in last Tuesday’s leadership spill.
Elias Visontay 1.20pm: Hunt denounces, rejects discrimination reports
Greg Hunt has moved to “denounce and reject” reports of discrimination against the Australian-Chinese community amid growing concern over the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The Health Minister said there were now 15 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Australia, and announced “an additional patient is now being tested” on Christmas Island, however those tests are a precautionary effort.
Five of the 15 Australian cases of coronavirus have so far recovered.
He said so far there were 42,723 cases of the disease around the world, with 1,013 deaths.
“We do know that many in the Australian-Chinese community have had a stressful and difficult time. In some cases, there have been reports of discrimination, and I want to denounce and reject those absolutely and to say to the Australian-Chinese community, we thank you, we honour you and we respect you,” Mr Hunt said.
“The shopping centres are safe. And if there are shopping centres in areas that have particularly strong concentrations of people with Chinese-Australian backgrounds, there is no reason not to be there. And I think that’s an important message of safety, of solidarity and of respect.”
Richard Ferguson 12.55pm: Coalition targets Labor funding promises
The Coalition is set to take aim at Labor’s more than $250m commitments to fund specific sports programs in Labor seats at the last election in question time, as it tries to turn a page on its own alleged sports rorts scandals.
Last year, Anthony Albanese unveiled a multitude of funding promises for swimming pools, netball courts, and other sports facilities in target electorates.
Government sources believe this is a sign of hypocrisy after Labor have labelled their sports grants programs “corrupt”, with the Opposition planning to funnel more than $400m to its own, pre-selected projects if it had won the election.
Before they were even elected, Labor was promising $15.3m for a swimming pool in the ultra-marginal seat of Corangamite and $5m to upgrade Katherine Pool in the NT Labor seat of Lingiari (which was under unusual pressure from the Coalition).
A spokeswoman for Anthony Albanese told The Australian that the Labor sport funding promises were different as they were election commitments, while the Coalition sports grants were handed out before the 2019 election.
“These were election commitments which Labor was seeking a mandate for,” the Labor spokeswoman said.
“The Coalition rorted sporting community grants funds in an attempt to buy votes.”
The Morrison government also accused Mr Albanese of “hypocrisy” over the sport rorts scandal in parliament last week, pointing to an Auditor-General’s report which found a then-Minister Albanese administered a $550m grants program which “disproportionately” gave money to Labor seats.
Elias Visontay 12.50pm: BoM manipulates data: Hanson
Pauline Hanson has accused government organisations including the Bureau of Meteorology of “manipulating data”, as she moves a planned bill to add a “balanced view” of climate change science into school curriculums.
Senator Hanson said her proposed legislation was inspired by “teachers who were totally opposed to my politics and they were teaching that in the class”, and claimed Australia’s education system has “been taken over by the left”.
“Parents don’t have a say or input in what their children are being taught,” Senator Hanson told Sky News.
“It (the proposed bill) gives the parents a right to challenge the educational system.
“All I’m saying is let’s have a balanced view instead of this partisan view that’s being put before our children.
“When we talk about politics we talk about climate change or what’s happening in history, there’s not necessarily a balanced view about it.
“People go through our educational system and we know that it’s been taken over by the left.
“The fact is that we’re pushing about climate change is man-made … there is an opposing view.
“There are scientists out there that actually don’t agree with the push that it’s man-made.”
Asked if she thought schools should teach that government organisations including the Bureau of Meteorology were manipulating data, Senator Hanson said “I believe they are, because I’ve seen some of that manipulation myself.”
Regarding new coal-fired power stations and the government commissioning a $4 million feasibility study into a proposed facility in Queensland, Senator Hanson said the government should “go ahead and build it”.
“They already had a coal fired power station there so why spend another $4 million.”
“If you’re really serious about it just go ahead and build it.”
“Too much money is thrown into feasibility studies,” Senator Hanson said.
Elias Visontay 12.45pm: Albanese warns of coronavirus ‘racism’
Labor is pushing for greater support for Asian communities and businesses, amid concerns the impact of the coronavirus has turned to “overt racism”.
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney told colleagues at Labor’s caucus meeting on Tuesday that she had witnessed kids taunting Chinese community members in the Sydney suburb of Hurstville last week.
According to a Labor spokesman, Anthony Albanese said: “We need to speak up for communities that feel under siege in the face of overt racism.”
As the topic was being discussed, opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said Australia was behind New Zealand on the issue, whose government has already launched a campaign that Coronavirus is not an excuse for racism.
Labor members also raised questions about how long the nation could keep its borders closed, with opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen saying: “Coronavirus is a highly contagious disease and a significant risk to our region”.
Elias Visontay 12.35pm: ‘Don’t be distracted by Zali’
Anthony Albanese has defended the party’s lack of policy on coal and climate change and urged colleagues not to get “distracted” by a private member’s bill that would establish an independent climate change commission.
Speaking to the Labor caucus on Tuesday, the Opposition Leader said the party did not need to feel pressured by the government or commentators to formulate its climate change policy.
He was also scathing of the Coalition’s decision to provide $4m for feasibility study into a high-efficiency, low-emissions coal-fired power plant at Collinsville.
“The last new coal-fired power station came into operation in 2007,” Mr Albanese said, according to a party spokesman.
“The test for the government when they talk about Collinsville is whether it is going ahead. The proponents say it could only go ahead with a massive indemnity against climate risk.”
“On policy, we do not need to fit the timetable of the
government or of commentators. We need to fit the electoral timetable.”
Mr Albanese also warned colleagues not to be distracted by independent MP Zali Stegall’s proposed climate change bill – which aims to create a climate change commission and secure a commitment to reach net zero emission by 2050 – because it won’t make it to a parliamentary vote.
“The way the House of Representatives works means that Zali’s bill will never be put to a vote. We should be respectful to Zali and the reasons it’s being put forward but it’s also important, given that it won’t come to a vote, that we don’t get distracted,” he said.
The party meeting also heard a concern that the conservative side of politics has managed to frame the climate change debate.
Rosie Lewis 12.05pm: Albanese – Coalition a mess
Anthony Albanese has seized on the Morrison government’s embarrassing defeat on the floor of parliament and Nationals disunity, declaring the Coalition “are a mess”.
Addressing his colleagues at Tuesday’s caucus meeting, the Opposition Leader labelled his team “united, coherent and determined” while he said of the government: “They are a mess. If you can’t govern yourself, you can’t govern the country.”
The attack comes a day after Liberal National Party MP Llew O’Brien was elected deputy speaker of the House of Representatives against the wishes of Nationals leader Michael McCormack, who had chosen his colleague Damian Drum for the role.
Mr O’Brien quit the Nationals earlier this week over Mr McCormack’s leadership and his failure to promote any of his opponents after he defeated Barnaby Joyce in last Tuesday’s leadership spill.
According to a Labor spokesman, Mr Albanese told caucus Scott Morrison had no plan for wages growth, productivity, aged care, education outcomes, broadband, climate change or energy.
“If you look like you are more concerned about yourself than the country, then the country will punish you,” Mr Albanese said, according to the spokesman. “Yesterday matters and winning a ballot on the floor of the House of Representatives matters.”
Greg Brown 11.50am: ABC ‘should stick to charter’
Also in the partyroom, Senator McGrath noted ABC chair Ita Buttrose was planning to come to visit Canberra. he suggested the public broadcaster “stick to its charter” if it wanted to receive more funding.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan talked up the proposed new coal-fired power station in Collinsville, which has received $4 million in government funds for a feasibility study.
Greg Brown 11.35am: Lib concern over Wyatt, recognition
Liberal MPs have raised concerns about Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt’s handling of constitutional recognition in the Coalition joint partyroom meeting.
Liberal National senator James McGrath referenced an article in The Australian, where Mr Wyatt flagged a referendum on indigenous recognition in the constitution by June next year at the latest.
Partyroom sources say Senator McGrath was concerned the announcement was made without consulting the partyroom or without a referendum model decided.
“That has never been agreed by cabinet, by a backbench committee, or by partyroom,” a Liberal source said.
Senator McGrath was supported by West Australian senator Dean Smith and Queensland senator Amanda Stoker, who also raised their displeasure at the process.
Scott Morrison acknowledged the complaint and said the partyroom would have a say in the referendum process.
Greg Brown 10.15am: ‘Sick of appeasing Nat tantrums’
Senior cabinet ministers have urged moderate Liberal MPs to avoid a stoush with the Nationals over energy in this morning’s Coalition partyroom meeting, sparking fury from city Liberals who are sick of “appeasing” the pro-coal rhetoric of Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan.
A moderate Liberal MPs has expressed anger to The Australian after the faction was warned “not to heighten tensions” with pro-coal Nationals if they speak up about climate change policy in the partyroom meeting.
“It is like appeasing a child who has a tantrum,” a Liberal MP said.
“This is what we have been doing for four years. The more they don’t get their way the bigger the tantrum is.”
The partyroom meeting started at 10am. `
Elias Visontay 9.25am: Canavan: I support McCormack as leader
Senator Matt Canavan has vowed he fully supports Michael McCormack as Nationals leader amid renewed speculation on the party’s turmoil after it was embarrassed during a parliamentary ballot for Deputy Speaker.
“I fully support him as leader, but obviously I want to see the Nationals party forthrightly stick up for people in the bush.” Mr Canavan told Sky News.
However he acknowledged he still held policy differences with Mr McCormack, saying: “While I support the policies I’m not saying he needs to sell my policies, he’s the leader he’s got the right to determine his own policy.”
Senator Canavan resigned from cabinet last week ahead before a leadership spill in the party, in which he supported Barnaby Joyce.
During the interview on Sky News, Senator Canavan was asked about government funding for new coal-fired power stations, and said he supported building a new facility in NSW’s Hunter Valley in addition to a project in QLD that the government launched a feasibility study into last week.
“I do think we should consider new coal-fired power stations in the Hunter Valley too. We shouldn’t just be closing our minds to it.
Senator Canavan noted support to fund the continued running of existing coal-fired power assets, and said the costs should be compared with funding new facilities.
“If you start to get up to around $300 million (to upgrade the Liddell power station) and I saw a figure of almost $1 billion to keep it open for a few more years. Well you know a new coal-fired power station is about $2 billion and will last you 50 years. I think that needs to be weighed up.” he said.
Elias Visontay 8.50am: ‘Untidy few days’
Liberal senator James Patterson has acknowledged the “last couple of days have been a bit untidy” for his government after it was embarrassed during a parliamentary ballot loss for Deputy Speaker.
Senator Patterson reiterated the Liberals “have no control at all” in deciding internal National Party politics, and criticised Barnaby Joyce supporters within the party for acting out after last week’s leadership spill.
“There’s a lot of disappointment in politics. Everybody has ambition, it’s not always realised or at least not realised in the timeline that you might want it to.” Senator Patterson told Sky News.
“But that doesn’t give you license to misbehave and act out, and it’s certainly not an excuse to say that you or your friends were passed over for promotion.”
Regarding government support for funding new coal-fired power stations after the coalition commissioned a $4 million feasibility study into a proposed facility in Queensland, Senator Patterson highlighted subsidies for the renewable energy industry.
“My very strong first principles view is that the endpoint that we should be aiming at in a few years time is for all sources of energy to be able to stand on their own two feet.”
“The truth is that right now there’s very generous subsidies for the renewable energy industry.” he said.
Elias Visontay 8.25am: ‘Take our time to get coal right’
Labor’s Michelle Rowland has attacked government divisions over support for funding new-fired power stations.
However the Labor communications spokeswoman also said Labor did not yet have its own “comprehensive climate change and emissions policy” when acknowledging Labor’s current policy would allow new coal-fired power stations to be built from the private sector.
“Labor has made it very clear that we don’t support taxpayers funds being put into new coal fired power stations and we’re not alone there, the same people saying that include everyone from Malcolm Turnbull to the member for North Sydney to the member for Wentworth.” Ms Rowland told Sky News.
Regarding a $4 million feasibility study the government commissioned into a proposed coal-fired power station in Queensland, Ms Rowland said: “The government has a political objective here, in seeking to gain support for what it’s doing, they’re choosing to do that with taxpayers’ money.”
When asked if a Labor government would allow new coal-fired power stations to be built, Ms Rowland opened the door for such private projects, saying “it’s not a matter of Labor standing in the way.
“It’s a matter of applying the regulations as they stand, environmental and other planning approvals.
“If those processes are followed, if the finances stack up, then that consortium or that individual with a lazy couple of billion dollars to spare would go through those processes.” she said.
Asked if Labor’s position was contradictory, Mr Rowland said Labor “will have a comprehensive climate change and emissions policy going into the next election”.
“The last election was barely a year ago, we’re barely a year into this term. And we are going to take our time to get this right.”
“Labor recognises that coal will continue to play an important role in our energy mix in the decades to come. We are not going to be a party that abandons people who work in the coal sector.”
“If Australia isn’t selling coal to export markets, someone else will.” Ms Rowland said.
Elias Visontay 8.20am: Albanese holds back on coal
Anthony Albanese has refused to say whether he would ban new coal-fired power stations from being built under a Labor government he would lead.
While the Labor leader would not rule out all coal-fired power station projects, he said: “I don’t think there is a place for new coal fired power plants in Australia.”
“The truth is that no private sector operation will touch a new coal fired power plant with a barge pole,” Mr Albanese told ABC RN.
Asked directly if Labor would allow new coal fired power stations to be built, he replied: “It doesn’t stack up”, but when pushed on the topic, said: “What Labor wants to see is investment in clean energy, I don’t think there is a place for new coal fired power plants in Australia.”
Mr Albanese also refused to reveal if Labor would commit to supporting net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – something the Government has said it is considering this week – saying it was a matter for his party’s caucus.
Elias Visontay 8.05am: ‘Stability not up to us’
Anthony Albanese has defended Labor’s decision to nominate ex-Nationals MP Llew O’Brien for Deputy Speaker on Monday, saying “it’s not up to us to promote stability” in the government.
The Labor leader’s comments come after the government was embarrassed by a ballot for Deputy Speaker on Monday, when several government MPs voted against the government’s pick for the position, fuelling leadership speculation in the Nationals a week on from Barnaby Joyce’s failed spill.
“I didn’t talk with Llew O’Brien, or Barnaby Joyce at all.” Mr Albanese told ABC RN, defending his role in the vote, though conceding some of his party may have been planning the move.
“I’d be surprised if there weren’t discussions around the chamber, there are all the time.
“It is not Labor’s job or my responsibility to promote unity in the Coalition.” Mr Albanese said.
What’s making news:
Llew O’Brien, the LNP maverick who won a shock ballot for Deputy Speaker, has attacked embattled Nationals leader Michael McCormack for holding a party meeting in Victoria last year that coincided with the Melbourne Cup.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned of the dangers of succumbing to narrow “identity politics”, telling Australian MPs the two countries must work together to promote tolerance and become “anchors” for economic growth across the region.
The Australian Research Council has handed out more than $226m in taxpayer-funded grants over the past five years to projects involving Chinese organisations, including four involving “high risk” telco Huawei.
Moderate Liberal MP Jason Falinski says he does not think Australia can meet a net-zero emissions target by 2050, as the Coalition’s energy wars escalate amid open conflict between inner-city and regional MPs.
Alice Workman’s sketch: Empty chair riding shotgun for lost leader a Thor point for Nationals
Dennis Shanahan writes: Nationals’ virus now a threat to Coalition
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