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| Coalition backbenchers unite to lobby for coal under banner of Monash Forum | Coalition backbenchers unite to lobby for coal under banner of Monash Forum |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A group of 20 Coalition backbench MPs have put their name to a manifesto warning against the “demonisation” of coal, the Liberal MP Craig Kelly has revealed. | A group of 20 Coalition backbench MPs have put their name to a manifesto warning against the “demonisation” of coal, the Liberal MP Craig Kelly has revealed. |
| Kelly – the chairman of the government’s backbench committee on the environment and energy – confirmed the existence of the Monash Forum, which supports the use of coal-fired power. | Kelly – the chairman of the government’s backbench committee on the environment and energy – confirmed the existence of the Monash Forum, which supports the use of coal-fired power. |
| Kelly told Guardian Australia the group’s manifesto was not inconsistent with the Turnbull government’s National Energy Guarantee, which he said was a “good policy”. But the group’s position will add to pressure for government support for a new coal-fired power station. | Kelly told Guardian Australia the group’s manifesto was not inconsistent with the Turnbull government’s National Energy Guarantee, which he said was a “good policy”. But the group’s position will add to pressure for government support for a new coal-fired power station. |
| He confirmed a list of the group’s members published in the Australian that includes Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews. The former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was reportedly “linked to” the group. | He confirmed a list of the group’s members published in the Australian that includes Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews. The former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was reportedly “linked to” the group. |
| George Christensen has reportedly written to fellow Nationals MPs inviting them to join the group “encouraging the government in the promotion of and facilitation of and/or construction of coal-fired power stations”. | George Christensen has reportedly written to fellow Nationals MPs inviting them to join the group “encouraging the government in the promotion of and facilitation of and/or construction of coal-fired power stations”. |
| The group is named after the first world war general John Monash, owing to his role in opening up Victoria’s Latrobe Valley for coal production. | The group is named after the first world war general John Monash, owing to his role in opening up Victoria’s Latrobe Valley for coal production. |
| “It’s not like it’s a secret society,” Kelly said, before referring Guardian Australia to Christensen for a full list of members and the text of its manifesto. “One of the aims of the group is to emphasise the importance of coal-fired generation. | “It’s not like it’s a secret society,” Kelly said, before referring Guardian Australia to Christensen for a full list of members and the text of its manifesto. “One of the aims of the group is to emphasise the importance of coal-fired generation. |
| “Coal is demonised by a large section of the community – that demonisation is incorrect, because coal is absolutely vital to the national economy both for export and the generation of cheap, reliable electricity.” | “Coal is demonised by a large section of the community – that demonisation is incorrect, because coal is absolutely vital to the national economy both for export and the generation of cheap, reliable electricity.” |
| Kelly said if AGL’s Liddell power station were closed, the “optimum outcome for the grid” would be to construct a new coal-fired power station. | Kelly said if AGL’s Liddell power station were closed, the “optimum outcome for the grid” would be to construct a new coal-fired power station. |
| He said private-sector investment in coal might not be forthcoming due to possible technological change and changes to climate policy by a future government so “the government may need to step in and assist the build” of a new power station. | He said private-sector investment in coal might not be forthcoming due to possible technological change and changes to climate policy by a future government so “the government may need to step in and assist the build” of a new power station. |
| Kelly said the Monash Forum’s manifesto stopped short of calling for a specific form of government support for coal, describing it as a statement of principles stressing the need for coal as a “low-cost electricity for consumers and industry”. | Kelly said the Monash Forum’s manifesto stopped short of calling for a specific form of government support for coal, describing it as a statement of principles stressing the need for coal as a “low-cost electricity for consumers and industry”. |
| Asked why the government should support coal if the private sector refused and renewables continued to become cheaper, Kelly said: “No matter how much solar and wind you have, you’re going to need some baseload power.” | Asked why the government should support coal if the private sector refused and renewables continued to become cheaper, Kelly said: “No matter how much solar and wind you have, you’re going to need some baseload power.” |
| AGL plans to replace its ageing Liddell power station with renewables, batteries, gas power, upgraded coal power and demand response, and has resisted government calls to sell the power station to prevent its closure. | AGL plans to replace its ageing Liddell power station with renewables, batteries, gas power, upgraded coal power and demand response, and has resisted government calls to sell the power station to prevent its closure. |
| The Nationals senator John Williams said he supported coal-fired generation and he had replied to a text message to join but had not seen any pledge or manifesto. | |
| Williams said if AGL refused to sell to a private buyer, the government should compulsorily acquire it to on-sell or “as a last resort” run the plant itself. | |
| The Liberal MP Ian Goodenough said he had been part of a gathering of conservative MPs for “some years” that had recently adopted the name the Monash Forum. | |
| Goodenough said he wanted to “explore options for a cost-effective and reliable way of supplying power with the lowest emissions practicable”. | |
| “I would generally not advocate for government subsidies for any form of power generation, preferring the technology to be financially sustainable on its own merits,” he said. | |
| The Turnbull government’s energy guarantee is still being designed by the Energy Security Board and requires sign-off by the states before proposed reliability and emissions reduction requirements are imposed. | The Turnbull government’s energy guarantee is still being designed by the Energy Security Board and requires sign-off by the states before proposed reliability and emissions reduction requirements are imposed. |
| At a press conference on Tuesday the energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, said the Monash group and the government wanted “exactly the same thing”. | |
| “The Turnbull government has a technology-neutral approach to delivering a more affordable and reliable energy system,” he said. | |
| Asked about a subsidy for coal, Frydenberg said the National Energy Guarantee would value reliability and dispatchability which would send a market signal to investors for all forms of baseload power including coal and gas. | |
| “[The Neg] will deliver more affordable and reliable energy without subsidies, taxes or trading schemes, levelling the playing field for all types of generation,” he said in a statement. | |
| “Independent modelling undertaken by the ESB suggests coal will continue to remain part of the energy mix making up more than half of supply in 2030.” | “Independent modelling undertaken by the ESB suggests coal will continue to remain part of the energy mix making up more than half of supply in 2030.” |
| Labor’s climate change spokesman, Mark Butler, said the Monash Group “exemplifies how chaotic energy policy has become the Liberals”. | |
| “The energy industry has been clear they have no appetite for building new coal-fired power stations,” he said. | |
| “New coal is more expensive and more polluting than alternatives, yet the hard right want to waste taxpayers’ money on their coal fantasies demanding Malcolm Turnbull to guarantee new investment in coal-fired power.” | |
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