Ley concedes new coal-fired power plants ‘highly unlikely’; Miners, farmers and business groups plead for deal on environmental laws
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley acknowledged the ABC’s remarks on Monday in the final interview of her marathon media blitz to promote the Coalition’s energy policies: 7.30 He said coal-fired power plants are unlikely to be economically viable.
“The point is, it needs to build up,” Ley said when asked whether new coal-fired plants could be subsidized under a “technology-neutral” scheme.
“There’s nothing even remotely similar to this on the table right now.”
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Later in the interview, it emerged that he had once again ruled out new coal plans, instead emphasizing the need to release more gas to the domestic market.
“We will not build coal-fired power plants and there are no new coal proposals considering existing coal assets are being kept open for longer.”
Moderators at a telephonic meeting held on Sunday to finalize coalition policy objected to allowing the possibility of financing coal power plants in the future, but were rejected.
The policy, published on Sunday, said the Coalition “supports both new and existing generation (including gas, hydropower, batteries, coal and renewable energy in the right places) with modest, targeted underwriting to keep prices low and ensure investment occurs when and where it is needed.”
In an interview on ABC Afternoon BriefingKevin Hogan, deputy leader of the National Party, has twice backed the possibility of insuring new coal power plants, saying “there are a lot of high-energy, low-emission coal-fired power plants being built around the world right now. There will be guidelines.”
Asked by 7.30Ley said “absolutely” if he could guarantee Sarah Ferguson would still be opposition leader at the next election.
“I am the leader and I was elected six months ago.”
