Pressure for energy probe

THE Greens and Labor are calling for a royal commission into the energy sector.

Several Coalition MPs have raised the idea of a royal commission into electricity prices, so the opposition parties are working on a way to get them to put their money where their mouth is.

Labor wants an inquiry to focus on the effects of privatisation, while the Greens also want it to look at the deregulation of an essential service. The move could be passed through the Senate with crossbench support and then sent to the Lower House, where Coalition MPs’ commitment to the idea would be tested.