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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/19/turnbull-sets-out-power-price-fix-to-stay-ahead-of-coalition-rebellion
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| Turnbull sets out power price fix to stay ahead of Coalition rebellion | Turnbull sets out power price fix to stay ahead of Coalition rebellion |
| (7 months later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull is attempting to stay one step ahead of the rebellion inside his own ranks by laying out his revised position on the national energy guarantee and reassuring restive colleagues a comprehensive fix is coming on high power prices. | Malcolm Turnbull is attempting to stay one step ahead of the rebellion inside his own ranks by laying out his revised position on the national energy guarantee and reassuring restive colleagues a comprehensive fix is coming on high power prices. |
| The prime minister took to social media on Sunday to confirm the government would accept the recommendations of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recent inquiry into power prices – including default pricing for consumers – and he also signalled he had reverted back to legislating the emissions reduction target in the Neg. | The prime minister took to social media on Sunday to confirm the government would accept the recommendations of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recent inquiry into power prices – including default pricing for consumers – and he also signalled he had reverted back to legislating the emissions reduction target in the Neg. |
| On Friday, Turnbull, the energy minister Josh Frydenberg and the treasurer Scott Morrison worked up a proposal that the Neg’s emissions reduction target be set by ministerial regulation, which is different to legislation, which must clear the parliament. | On Friday, Turnbull, the energy minister Josh Frydenberg and the treasurer Scott Morrison worked up a proposal that the Neg’s emissions reduction target be set by ministerial regulation, which is different to legislation, which must clear the parliament. |
| Labor to support price caps on power bills as Coalition's Neg woes continue | Labor to support price caps on power bills as Coalition's Neg woes continue |
| But Sunday’s message appears to walk that option back. The prime minister said “we will introduce a new law that ensures that before any new emissions target is set, or changed, the energy regulators and the ACCC must advise what that means for your electricity prices”. | But Sunday’s message appears to walk that option back. The prime minister said “we will introduce a new law that ensures that before any new emissions target is set, or changed, the energy regulators and the ACCC must advise what that means for your electricity prices”. |
| Turnbull backers have been canvassing colleagues throughout the weekend in an attempt to stave off any conflagration when federal parliament resumes on Monday. | Turnbull backers have been canvassing colleagues throughout the weekend in an attempt to stave off any conflagration when federal parliament resumes on Monday. |
| Ministers will gather at The Lodge on Sunday night to discuss the power package and the government’s position on company tax, with announcements planned for Monday. | Ministers will gather at The Lodge on Sunday night to discuss the power package and the government’s position on company tax, with announcements planned for Monday. |
| With daggers drawn inside the government, Sunday’s social media message from the prime minister contains a direct slap at Tony Abbott. | With daggers drawn inside the government, Sunday’s social media message from the prime minister contains a direct slap at Tony Abbott. |
| Turnbull noted Abbott had previously supported the Paris target he spent much of the last parliamentary week campaigning against. He noted the former prime minister had characterised it in 2015 as a “strong and responsible target, environmentally and economically responsible”. | Turnbull noted Abbott had previously supported the Paris target he spent much of the last parliamentary week campaigning against. He noted the former prime minister had characterised it in 2015 as a “strong and responsible target, environmentally and economically responsible”. |
| Abbott was quick to hit back at Turnbull via Twitter, claiming that the targets made sense in 2015, but not now. | Abbott was quick to hit back at Turnbull via Twitter, claiming that the targets made sense in 2015, but not now. |
| Emissions targets that made sense three years ago when all countries were supposed to be in Paris and we didn’t need policy change and wouldn’t face economic dislocation do not make sense now. @TurnbullMalcolm take note. | Emissions targets that made sense three years ago when all countries were supposed to be in Paris and we didn’t need policy change and wouldn’t face economic dislocation do not make sense now. @TurnbullMalcolm take note. |
| With conservatives drifting in Peter Dutton’s direction after the government’s rout in the recent Longman byelelction, one Turnbull backer declared on Sunday that the home affairs minister would not prevail in any leadership challenge because he was “crippled by his association with Abbott”. | With conservatives drifting in Peter Dutton’s direction after the government’s rout in the recent Longman byelelction, one Turnbull backer declared on Sunday that the home affairs minister would not prevail in any leadership challenge because he was “crippled by his association with Abbott”. |
| Abbott, the source said, was “electoral hemlock”. | Abbott, the source said, was “electoral hemlock”. |
| As well attempting to resolve the dangerous internal fight over energy, the Coalition must settle its position on the politically unpopular tax cut for big business. | As well attempting to resolve the dangerous internal fight over energy, the Coalition must settle its position on the politically unpopular tax cut for big business. |
| After the Longman byelection ended with the Liberal National party primary vote falling to barely 30%, Turnbull and Morrison have been under pressure to drop the policy, which would see the tax rate for businesses progressively cut from 30% to 25%. | After the Longman byelection ended with the Liberal National party primary vote falling to barely 30%, Turnbull and Morrison have been under pressure to drop the policy, which would see the tax rate for businesses progressively cut from 30% to 25%. |
| The last thing anyone needs is industry super acting like retail funds – and now we have proof | Greg Jericho | The last thing anyone needs is industry super acting like retail funds – and now we have proof | Greg Jericho |
| Turnbull and Morrison have since refused to commit to bringing the policy to the next election, despite repeated questioning. With the government having listed the bill for debate in the upcoming parliamentary sitting – still four votes short of the support it needs in the Senate – the government is preparing to let the matter drop. | Turnbull and Morrison have since refused to commit to bringing the policy to the next election, despite repeated questioning. With the government having listed the bill for debate in the upcoming parliamentary sitting – still four votes short of the support it needs in the Senate – the government is preparing to let the matter drop. |
| The deputy leader of the Nationals, Bridget McKenzie, who counts several nervous backbenchers in her party room, including George Christensen, told Sky News she was not “as pessimistic” as others about the bill’s chances. | The deputy leader of the Nationals, Bridget McKenzie, who counts several nervous backbenchers in her party room, including George Christensen, told Sky News she was not “as pessimistic” as others about the bill’s chances. |
| “I’m hopeful as always that the Senate will pass the government’s legislation,” she said, echoing a line Mathias Cormann has been using in the past fortnight. | “I’m hopeful as always that the Senate will pass the government’s legislation,” she said, echoing a line Mathias Cormann has been using in the past fortnight. |
| “We need an internationally competitive tax rate for our globally exposed industries.” | “We need an internationally competitive tax rate for our globally exposed industries.” |
| But with Labor’s ongoing attack that the policy, which includes the big banks, amount to the government giving a break to big end of town at the expense of health and education, and no sign One Nation or Centre Alliance will back the bill, a growing number of government MPs are prepared to let it drop. | But with Labor’s ongoing attack that the policy, which includes the big banks, amount to the government giving a break to big end of town at the expense of health and education, and no sign One Nation or Centre Alliance will back the bill, a growing number of government MPs are prepared to let it drop. |
| “Longman was a clarion call,” one said. “Labor’s attack worked there, which means it can work in similar electorates and we can’t fight it. Best to just let it go.” | “Longman was a clarion call,” one said. “Labor’s attack worked there, which means it can work in similar electorates and we can’t fight it. Best to just let it go.” |
| In Sunday’s social media message, Turnbull promised voters he would bring down the cost of power.“We will set a price expectation which should be the most anyone pays,” he said. | In Sunday’s social media message, Turnbull promised voters he would bring down the cost of power.“We will set a price expectation which should be the most anyone pays,” he said. |
| “So, through more competition and all our other changes, that price will come down. We will demand and ensure these price savings are passed on to families and to businesses. If companies don’t pass them on, the ACCC will put them on notice. | “So, through more competition and all our other changes, that price will come down. We will demand and ensure these price savings are passed on to families and to businesses. If companies don’t pass them on, the ACCC will put them on notice. |
| “And if the prices remain too high, we’ll implement the toughest penalties, until you’re getting value for money. | “And if the prices remain too high, we’ll implement the toughest penalties, until you’re getting value for money. |
| “We will not hesitate to use a big stick, as we did with gas, to make sure the big companies do the right thing by you, their customers.” | “We will not hesitate to use a big stick, as we did with gas, to make sure the big companies do the right thing by you, their customers.” |
| All eyes on Dutton as conservatives fuel Coalition's crisis of confidence | Katharine Murphy | All eyes on Dutton as conservatives fuel Coalition's crisis of confidence | Katharine Murphy |
| “The target in the Neg is by 2030 to reduce emissions by 26% from 2005 standards. We will meet this in a canter. | “The target in the Neg is by 2030 to reduce emissions by 26% from 2005 standards. We will meet this in a canter. |
| “As Tony Abbott said in 2015, it is a strong and responsible target, environmentally and economically responsible“We can make the Neg work even better. I have been listening to my own team about how we can achieve that, especially how to protect you, the consumer, in the future. | “As Tony Abbott said in 2015, it is a strong and responsible target, environmentally and economically responsible“We can make the Neg work even better. I have been listening to my own team about how we can achieve that, especially how to protect you, the consumer, in the future. |
| The fix on power prices and the adjustments to the Neg are an attempt by the leadership to contain the number of government MPs crossing the floor. | The fix on power prices and the adjustments to the Neg are an attempt by the leadership to contain the number of government MPs crossing the floor. |
| One of the MPs who is threatening to vote against the Neg said what he’d heard of the recalibration “does not shift my concerns – and, I think, has the potential to more likely lead to greater concerns, because it allows future Labor governments to up the target without going to parliament”. | One of the MPs who is threatening to vote against the Neg said what he’d heard of the recalibration “does not shift my concerns – and, I think, has the potential to more likely lead to greater concerns, because it allows future Labor governments to up the target without going to parliament”. |
| “We always say the devil is in the detail, but with this one, it really is. A few words here and there have the potential to change it 180 degrees, so we really need to talk this through. I think we can all say that is what will be dominating Tuesday’s meeting.” | “We always say the devil is in the detail, but with this one, it really is. A few words here and there have the potential to change it 180 degrees, so we really need to talk this through. I think we can all say that is what will be dominating Tuesday’s meeting.” |
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