Turnbull woos dissidents over energy guarantee as Dutton declares he’s a ‘team player’
Malcolm Turnbull has expressed confidence that he maintains the support of his ministry for the national energy guarantee as talks continue behind the scenes with dissident MPs in an attempt to persuade people against crossing the floor.
The prime minister and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have been meeting with a range of colleagues with objections about the policy, and some government MPs are reporting a backlash against the Neg from their constituents, whipped up in part by conservative media commentators who have been campaigning against the policy.
The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, found himself cajoled by the Sydney radio host Ray Hadley on Thursday into expressing public objections to the policy, but Dutton told the radio host he would ventilate any concerns he had privately.
“I give frank advice, I can promise you that, to the prime minister, to my other colleagues, if I don’t agree with what we are doing, or with a policy, or I argue vehemently that something should be changed or dropped,” Dutton said.
“I get my way sometimes, sometimes I don’t. I work as a team player. I am not going to be a part of the cabinet and then bag the prime minister out.”
The government is reluctant to introduce legislation to the House until it contains the breakout within its own ranks. There is some frustration behind the scenes that some of the rebels threatening to cross the floor are not being precise about what concessions they need to address their objections.
With anxiety acute within the government, the treasurer, Scott Morrison, has flagged adopting a recent recommendation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that would set a default price for energy consumers.
He said if the government proceeded down that path, it would offer an alternative to the standing offers marketed by energy retailers “which is used by energy companies frankly to pump up the volume of what they’re earning”.
“You’ve got to keep these big companies under control,” Morrison told the ABC. “They’re not operating in a free market nirvana.”
But he said the government would have to get the balance right about price regulation “otherwise all you end up doing is driving up prices”.
While much of the focus has been on the group of up to 10 MPs prepared to cross the floor, senior government players are also acutely aware that a number of MPs – including senior figures holding the line in public – are nervous about an uprising from the party’s base if the debate drags on without resolution.
Some government MPs object to the Neg on the grounds that it would legislate commitments made under the Paris climate agreement, and others are concerned it won’t bring down power prices. Some dissidents object on both grounds.
The Western Australian Liberal Andrew Hastie told Sky News on Thursday night he had reserved his right to cross the floor on the Neg because legislating Australia’s commitments under the Paris treaty would “undermine our economic sovereignty”.
“I think sovereignty is back in a big way,” the MP said. “Weak nations get trampled on, so we need to stay strong.”
Hastie said he also did not think the Neg would bring down power prices for consumers.
Western Australia is not in the national electricity market and the Neg will have absolutely no impact on voters in the state.
But Hastie said his objections were not designed to stir up leadership tensions within the Coalition but were objections of principle. He said the Liberal party was the party of conscience, and “I am not going to wound my conscience to please people”.
“When it comes to your deeply held convictions, you’ve just got to stand your ground,” he said.
The resources minister, Matt Canavan, confirmed in the Senate on Thursday that he had attempted to persuade the Nationals junior frontbencher Keith Pitt from quitting his position and crossing the floor.
Pitt has told colleagues he was considering his position. Asked whether he had lobbied Pitt to hold the line, Canavan replied: “Of course, I have tried to persuade all I’ve spoken to about the common sense of adopting the national energy guarantee.
“It is the right approach to help bring down power bills for the Australian people.”