Thread by @TurnbullMalcolm

I see @David_Speers is referring to the National Energy Guarantee as “Malcolm Turnbull’s NEG”. In fact the NEG had the support of the entire Cabinet, including and especially the current PM and Treasurer. It was approved by the Party Room on several occasions.

It had the support of the business community and energy sector in a way that no previous energy policy had. However a right wing minority in the Party Room refused to accept the majority position and threatened to cross the floor and defeat their own government.

That is the only reason it has been abandoned by the Government. The consequence is no integration of energy and climate policy, uncertainty continues to discourage investment with the consequence, as I have often warned, of both higher emissions and higher electricity prices.

And before anyone suggests the previous tweet is some kind of revelation - all of the economic ministers, including myself, @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg spent months arguing for the NEG on the basis that it would reduce electricity prices and enable us to lower our emissions.

I see the @australian has already described the tweets above as attacking the Coalition. That’s rubbish. I am simply stating the truth: the NEG was designed & demonstrated to reduce electricity prices. So dumping it means prices will be higher than if it had been retained. QED

The @australian claims I “dropped the NEG”. False. When it was clear a number of LNP MPs were going to cross the floor the Cabinet resolved to not present the Bill at that time but maintain the policy as @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg & I confirmed on 20 August

“Now, where and when we believe there would be sufficient support in the House of Reps, and obviously in our Party Room, to progress this component of the scheme we'll bring it forward once again.” And “The National Energy Guarantee remains the Government's policy”
20/8/18