Despite claims by one inner-city Liberal MP on Sky News this morning, the Morrison Liberal National Government is providing funding to coal-fired power projects, principally because they provide stable and reliable baseload supply.

In North Queensland, a clean coal-fired power project has been granted $4 million by the Morrison government for planning works to get the project to construction stage. This project, based in Collinsville, will create local jobs and several reports, including one by engineering firm GHD, show that not only is the project needed in the North but that it will lower power prices there as well.

When the Collinsville clean coal-fired power project is ready to be constructed, it will be eligible for consideration under the Morrison Liberal National government’s Underwriting New Generation Investments program, which supports targeted investment that will lower prices, increase competition and increase reliability in the energy system.

That is exactly what a coal-fired power plant at Collinsville will do! That funding program is open until 2023 and the Collinsville project will be eligible for such support. I note that one coal project is already being considered for support under the program.

The North Queensland clean coal-fired power plant is something that various Morrison Liberal National Government MPs, Senators and Ministers backed during the 2019 election and support for that project elicited strong public support for the LNP in crucial seats like Herbert, Dawson, Capricornia and Flynn.

These seats have allowed us to retain government. It is therefore very encouraging to read recent reports that the Prime Minister has stated he will not be “bullied” by “inner-city” interests when it comes to climate policy and his support for reliable and affordable power.