Malcolm Turnbull lost the Liberal leadership in 2009 because he was a warmist wanting a form of carbon tax. The same issue could cost him again: Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee is being challenged by a group of Coalition MPs who have formed an internal faction to pressure the government to intervene in the energy market and support the construction of new coal-fired power stations.
The Australian can reveal Tony Abbott, Kevin Andrews and Eric Abetz are among a group claiming the support of more than 20 government MPs that have signed onto the Monash Forum, named after World War One military hero Sir John Monash, a key figure in opening up Victoria’s Latrobe Valley to coal production...
The Australian understands the manifesto of the Monash Forum was given to backbenchers when parliament sat in Canberra last week with some MPs encouraged to sign documents to confirm their support.
“It says the government is building a Snowy 2.0 so why can’t it build a Hazelwood 2.0,” [Craig] Kelly said of the manifesto.
“The group wants to see the replacement of Australia’s existing coal-fired power fleet with new high efficiency, low emissions coal-fired power stations.”...
Mr Kelly and [George] Christensen today said they expected more than 30 MPs to join the forum, which would be more than half of the backbench. Mr Christensen said 10 Nationals had formally joined the group and another two had verbally told him they would join.
Note: none of the Government's expensive schemes to get us using more "green" power will actually change the climate by anything anybody could ever notice.
Doubt it? Then try asking Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, as I have, what difference his policies will make.
UPDATE Dennis Shanahan: The formation of the Monash Forum — formalising a Coalition “ginger group” to internally lobby MPs on policy issues — is a bad sign for Malcolm Turnbull, and not just because of Tony Abbott’s endorsement.
When such a group is formed — with perhaps more than 20 MPs as supporters — it is voicing deep dissatisfaction with policy direction and signals internal differences on key policy issues.
What’s more, whenever any group or forum is formed it means there exists an identifiable and quantifiable group at odds with the leader, which can be used to sow division and create suspicion.
Facing crucial negotiations with the states over a national energy policy, and his 30th losing Newspoll survey in a row, the Prime Minister’s determination and preference for renewable-energy solutions will be sorely tested in coming weeks. It will also test his leadership.
(Thanks to readers Peter of Bellevue Hill, Clinton and others.)
