Labor backs Greens plan to block Coalition from underwriting coal power

Labor and the Greens will attempt to prevent the Morrison government from underwriting new coal-fired power as the energy policy battle moves into its next phase.

The leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale,
 centre, speaks to the leader of the opposition in the Senate,
 Penny Wong.

Labor on Tuesday resolved to support a Greens bill stopping the commonwealth from providing financial assistance to coal-fired power plants, and there is an effort to secure the requisite parliamentary numbers for an upset as the Morrison government moves ahead with its controversial energy package. Negotiations are under way with crossbenchers in both chambers.

The government secured a rubber stamp from the Coalition party room on Tuesday for policy measures aimed to reduce power prices, including a contentious divestiture power, but Guardian Australia revealed on Monday night ministers had to rework the original proposal substantially to head off a backbench revolt.

Read the story from The Guardian by Katharine Murphy - “Labor backs Greens plan to block Coalition from underwriting coal power.”

Snowy 2.0 can 'out-compete' any new coal plants, chief says

The head of the government’s Snowy 2.0 project says the expanded scheme would be able to “out-compete” any new coal-fired power.

Malcolm Turnbull tours the Snowy Hydro Tumut 2 power station.
 The 2.0 scheme would perform better than any new coal-fired plants,
its head said.

Snowy Hydro’s managing director and chief executive, Paul Broad, told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday the project would perform better than any new coal plants, including those being pushed for by government backbenchers , because of the increasing market shift toward renewables.

“We will out-compete any new coal plant, no subsidies, no government guarantees, nothing,” he told the hearing. “We will out-compete them on price and reliability as the markets unfold.”

Read the story by Lisa Cox from The Guardian - “Snowy 2.0 can 'out-compete' any new coal plants, chief says.”