Faultlines in Monash Forum as senator fears hidden agenda

Monash Forum member Barry O’Sullivan has called the notion of a forced government acquisition of Liddell a form of socialism.

Senator Barry O'Sullivan will not undermine Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith

A split has emerged within the pro-coal Monash Forum as Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan described Tony Abbott’s call for the government to forcibly acquire the Liddell coal-fired power station as “socialism”.

The Queensland senator, who has verbally agreed to join the ginger group, told The Australian it would be a “slippery slope” for the government to step in and force AGL into a sale against its will.

He also threatened to leave the group if he saw evidence it was being used as a vehicle to undermine Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.

Senator O’Sullivan’s threat came as The Australian learnt up to six MPs refused requests to join the Monash Forum because they believed it might be a vehicle used to undermine the Prime Minister.

They also had concerns about the group’s proposal for a $4 billion taxpayer-funded new coal-fired power plant. The conservative MPs who knocked back invites to the Monash Forum include James Paterson, Andrew Hastie, Slade Brockman and Amanda Stoker.

Two prominent members of the ginger group, Mr Abbott and Barnaby Joyce, last week put a Christmas deadline on the Prime Minister’s leadership if the government’s stocks do not improve.

When asked whether action could be taken against AGL under competition laws, Mr Joyce warned that the government was beginning to look “powerless”.

“We are all playing games here and the person who pays ... is the family on the corner of the street,” Mr Joyce told The Australian. “They don’t really care about (AGL chief executive) Andrew Vesey and his bonus nor the government or the opposition and their international agreements. They just can’t pay their power bill and now they believe that we are as powerless as them.”

Senator O’Sullivan said it would be “crazy” for the ginger group to attempt to destabilise the government, arguing he did not believe that was the intention of its creation.

“I will not participate in any activity that brings instability to our government’s position particularly as we are arguably a year out from the election,” Senator O’Sullivan said.

“I have done it as a genuine push for united backbenchers to go to executive government and say ‘here is a policy, it is well worth considering’. I don’t work around in the shadows on separate agendas. If I’ve got policy settings that I think the government ought to consider I just come out and say so.”

Senator O’Sullivan said the government should invest in new coal-fired power stations rather than force the sale of Liddell, which would be a step too far.

“That sort of borders on a bit of national socialism,” he said.

“I think the best thing to do if the government wants to influence the market place is make it attractive enough.”

Mr Abbott last week called for the government to compulsory acquire Liddell if the company refused to sell it, joining calls from other Monash Forum members Eric Abetz and George Christensen.

The former prime minister was rebuked by Mr Turnbull who said nationalising the power plant was against Liberal values. “Nationalising assets is what the Liberal Party was founded to stop governments from doing,” he said.