Coal news and updates

Barnett at odds with PM on coal

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has defended government plans to address climate change after calls by a Liberal premier for Australia to be bolder on emissions reduction targets.

West Australian premier Colin Barnett came away from hearing US president Barack Obama's speak in Brisbane at the weekend convinced it was a call to arms.

"I think that we can be bolder in Australia, including in WA," he told The West Australian newspaper.

"I think all of us do need to lift their game."

Mr Hunt insists Australia is pulling its weight, describing the government's Direct Action plan as one of the most significant pieces of climate change legislation in history.

"We are doing more," he told ABC radio on Monday, noting Australia was one of only a few countries that had exceeded its Kyoto target while others had failed to meet theirs.

Mr Hunt said an announcement about Australia's post-2020 reduction target would be made in the first half of 2015.

Mr Barnett is also on a collision course with Prime Minister Tony Abbott over coal, suggesting Australia needs to break its addiction to the fossil fuel.

"The most effective thing that Australia can do is to ensure that more of our new power generation is at least gas-fired and not coal," Mr Barnett said.

He acknowledged it was not a popular view on the east coast but said it was a simple and cheap way to reduce emissions.

WA has significant natural gas resources.

Mr Abbott has reiterated his strong support for coal-fired power in both Australia and the world.

"Sure it's important to protect the environment but we've also got to raise living standards," he told Macquarie Radio.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald