Tony Abbott mounts public attack on Turnbull's energy policy ahead of crucial party vote
The Turnbull government is facing a determined challenge to its flagship energy policy at a crucial meeting of government MPs on Tuesday, as former prime minister Tony Abbott declares his party is “dead wrong” to proceed with the National Energy Guarantee.
The last-minute push not only seeks to kill off the energy scheme but also aims to stop a government bill to reduce carbon emissions by 26 per cent by 2030, setting up a test of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.
But the government is confident of building the numbers to gain official approval from the Coalition party room, clearing the way for it to introduce the carbon reduction bill this week.
Mr Abbott hardened his stance against the NEG and the carbon reduction bill in an interview on Monday night while disputing the suggestion he had broken his pledge three years ago not to undermine the government.
Asked about Mr Turnbull’s declaration that to oppose the NEG was to engage in “idiocy and ideology” on energy policy, Mr Abbott took aim at the Prime Minister’s claims and rejected the promises of price cuts from the NEG.
“Idiocy is doing more of the same and expecting a different result,” Mr Abbott told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
He said it would be wrong to sign up to the NEG to meet the objectives of state and territory governments and argued it was right to reverse course on the Paris agreement on climate change given the United States wanted to withdraw from the pact.
“There has been no leaking, no briefing against the government, there has been none of it,” Mr Abbott said of his behaviour since losing power in 2015, when he vowed not to undermine the government.
“I’m prepared to back myself against my former colleagues when it comes to playing it straight and playing it fair.”
Mr Abbott said he chose to speak about policy because he wanted the government to be the best it could be, but he sidestepped a question from host Leigh Sales about whether he was still the country’s most effective opposition leader.
The interview came after Mr Turnbull rejected Mr Abbott’s remark earlier this month that “pigs might fly” when asked about modelling showing the NEG would cut power bills.
Labor energy spokesman Mark Butler asked Mr Turnbull in Question Time if he agreed with the man he replaced, prompting the Prime Minister to insist the NEG would deliver more affordable energy.
“The honourable member knows very well what happens when you allow ideology and idiocy to take charge of energy policy,” Mr Turnbull replied.
Mr Abbott has a handful of allies in his push to change policy within the Coalition party room on Tuesday, but there were no new voices publicly backing him in the lead-up to the crucial gathering.
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg needs formal approval from the party room for draft legislation to cut emissions by 26 per cent in the electricity sector, a federal law that will guide the NEG.
While the mechanism of the guarantee will be put into force by state legislation, Mr Frydenberg will outline the policy to the party room to secure an endorsement.
He will then resume negotiations with state and territory energy ministers by phone before seeking a final agreement after four weeks of consultation on the state bill.
The government process sets up a key vote in Federal Parliament on emission reductions, given the bill that is put to the Coalition party room on Tuesday is likely to be introduced in to Parliament on Wednesday or Thursday to mandate the 26 per cent reduction.
Labor is arguing for a cut of 45 per cent across the economy but will have to decide whether to support the government bill or reject it as inadequate.
Nationals MPs emerged from a confidential briefing on energy on Monday morning to express increasing confidence about the NEG in the belief the government will also extension of coal-fired power stations ahead of a crucial vote on the Turnbull government’s energy plan.
Queensland Liberal National Party MP Scott Buchholz declared the “first tranche” of the new plan would see the owners of coal-fired power stations start to invest in upgrades to keep generating more electricity for longer.
The comments came after Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims briefed the Nationals party room on 56 recommendations to ease price pressures across the electricity market.
The briefing gave Nationals MPs including former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce opportunity to debate whether to embrace the National Energy Guarantee when it goes to the wider Coalition party room on Tuesday.
Nationals MPs told Fairfax Media there were no surprises in the briefing but it was a good discussion on the full list of ACCC recommendations.
One MP said he continued to back the “certainty” offered by the National Energy Guarantee.
Fairfax Media understands Mr Sims made it clear to the Nationals party room that one of the 56 recommendations in the regulator’s pricing report in June should not be described as “underwriting coal” or favouring coal-fired power stations.
Instead, Mr Sims was “unequivocal” that the recommendation was about helping to finance new forms of generation regardless of their technology, ranging from renewables to fossil fuels.
Mr Sims is expected to address the Liberal Party room meeting on Tuesday.