A Coalition party room majority has approved the controversial National Energy Guarantee (NEG) after heated debate at today’s crucial meeting. However, although the Coalition majority approves the NEG it’s still got some way to go.
Ten MPs, including Tony Abbott, opposed or questioned the policy. A number have reserved their right to cross the floor when it comes to a Parliamentary vote on the legislation.
Some 20 MPs spoke in favour of the policy. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull now has the majority support needed to take the NEG to the next stage.
Next steps depend on state reactions
State and territory governments will now be required to approve the NEG’s detail. They gave the policy tentative approval at Friday’s COAG meeting, however, this hinged on Coalition majority endorsement at today’s meeting.
Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is due to speak to the states via telephone hook-up tonight. The final NEG legislation could take weeks of negotiation.
Labor state governments want the NEG to place greater focus on renewables including solar installations.
Following agreement at last Friday’s meeting, draft exposure of state legislation will now be released for comment. This month-long exposure is a statutory requirement.
Vic, ACT, Qld call for changes to NEG
Frydenberg is focusing on Victoria’s opposition to the NEG. Along with the ACT and Queensland, Victoria wants higher emission reduction targets than the NEG’s 26 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
The Energy Minister wants states to agree on final state legislation before Victoria goes into caretaker mode at the end of October.
Because Victoria had a 43 per cent chance of blackouts in 2017, the state should therefore sign up to the NEG, he says. Victoria also has the second highest electricity prices in the country, the Guardian reports.
Coalition majority approves NEG but rocky road ahead
According to the Australian Financial Review, the most vocal NEG opponents at today’s meeting were former prime minister Tony Abbott, Andrew Hastie, Tony Pasin and George Christensen.
Other MPs also voiced concerns and reserved their right to cross the floor. These include Eric Abetz, Andrew Gee, Craig Kelly, Kevin Andrews and former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke after the meeting. He claimed the NEG can now deliver “more reliable power and cheaper power”.
The energy policy has received “overwhelming support”, he says. He therefore wants the policy legislation introduced during this parliamentary session. He added that Labor Leader Bill Shorten should take a bipartisan approach and support the Coalition’s NEG legislation.
