Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Petrie for his question, and I acknowledge his focus on getting affordable and reliable power. That's why he supports the actions of the Turnbull government to ensure more gas for domestic users, to rein in the power of the network companies and the pole and wire companies, and also to ensure that the retailers offer millions of Australian households a better deal. We're in possession of the Australian Energy Market Operator's report, which indicates a supply shortfall were Liddell to close in 2022. That's why we began discussions with the company AGL.

On this side of the House, we understand the importance of coal to the energy mix. We understand the importance of keeping these assets going for longer. The Labor Party, on the other hand, wants to close coal-fired power stations. The Leader of the Opposition will say in this parliament that coal has no future in Australia, but then he will go and put the high-vis vest on and say, 'Coal has a future in Australia.'

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

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