Leader of Nationals backs coal

DEPUTY Prime Minister Michael McCormack believes the competition watchdog has given the green light for the Government to support new coal- fired plants.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has recommended the Government give financial certainty to new power plants, but didn’t single out any particular technology.

The Nationals leader said the report showed coal was one technology the Government should support if it moves to underwrite power generation.

“Coal has to be part of the mix.

“We’ve got plenty of it, we’re exporting plenty of it, why don’t we use more of it for our domestic power needs?” Mr McCormack told Sky News yesterday.

The Government insists it is technology neutral and will let the market decide which forms of power generation come into the market.

Mr McCormack said coal created thousands of jobs, while also noting gas and other technologies had to be considered.

The Nationals leader’s support for coal is at odds with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other senior cabinet ministers who have been careful not to single out any form of power generation.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan, a Queensland Nationals senator, and Coalition backbenchers are continuing to make the case for coal.

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said the Government could not afford to be ideological.

“The ACCC didn’t suggest the subsidy of a coal- fired power station,” Mr Pyne told the Nine Network.