---
title: States to oppose Morrison's CoalKeeper proposal
description: The Federal Government will face state pressure over plans to subsidise coal power stations, regardless of whether they supply electricity to the grid.
---

[![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)

[![Canopy Logo](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/gpap-main-theme/images/the-canopy/the-canopy-logo.png)](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)

The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

# States to oppose Morrison's CoalKeeper proposal

Friday, 24 September 2021

In today’s news, the Morrison Government will face pressure the states over its plans to slug taxpayers to extend the life of ageing and unreliable coal burning power stations, regardless of whether they supply electricity to the grid or not.

Meanwhile, in a cynical move to delay urgent climate action for decades and save face amid growing international pressure, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will use a speech today to lay out the economic case for net zero emissions by 2050, mainly for his colleagues in the National Party who are becoming increasingly isolated as moderate Liberals call for net zero and stronger 2030 emission reduction targets.

And Energy Australia will close its Mt Piper coal power station in NSW by 2040 at the latest, two years ahead of schedule but still 10 years later than the deadline called for by the UN and International Energy Agency, among others, to prevent further climate chaos.

 

[States and territories revolt over federal government's CoalKeeper subsidy plan](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/federal-coal-gas-power-subsidy-revolt-electricty-market/100487526)

The federal government is facing a revolt from states and territories over its plan to allow subsidies for coal and gas-fired power stations as part of reforms to shore up reliability of the electricity grid.

[EnergyAustralia to shut NSW coal power station two years early as reforms hang in balance](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afr.com%2Fcompanies%2Fenergy%2Fenergyaustralia-to-quit-coal-early-as-reforms-hang-in-balance-20210923-p58u73&uId=5a778e7a00aa2026a265262c&cId=5a71496272d9dc241933e61d&contextId=614cdd0a920c671bf17cd1e6&dId=tm0BX687Of2N9VW-APz3wEk8l2k&op=open&sentiment=N&isHosted=false&id=7408579&name=Clean%20Air&type=search&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hZnIuY29tIn0.0eWs-P9mn8o1sNfbtjIfr9tPiaaq6QkGgqmUmDKo8SwpztpZSmSAIDeh3JALlEDFb331RPa6hzTK1A3JmeMMmA&s=mail-digest)

EnergyAustralia has committed to end coal power generation by 2040, underlining the accelerating shift away from coal as the Morrison Government-backed CoalKeeper reforms to subsidise coal power hang in the balance.

[‘No time to lose’: Italian ambassador urges Australia to commit to net zero before COP26](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/24/no-time-to-lose-italian-ambassador-urges-australia-to-commit-to-net-zero-before-cop26)

Italy’s top diplomat in Canberra has warned that there is “no time to lose” in fighting the climate crisis and hopes Australia will commit to net zero emissions.

[Josh Frydenberg to make case for net zero, saying Australia can’t risk being seen as a climate change pariah](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/24/josh-frydenberg-to-make-case-for-net-zero-saying-australia-cant-risk-being-seen-as-a-climate-change-pariah)

Josh Frydenberg will make the economic case for Australia adopting a net zero commitment, warning the country has a lot to lose if others believe “we are not transitioning in line with the rest of the world”.

[Massive NT solar farm a step closer as Sun Cable dramatically increases its capacity](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-23/nt-sun-cable-project-solar-farm-cost-size-increase/100487452)

Plans to build the world largest solar farm in the Northern Territory have been scaled up by as much as 40 per cent, with the estimated costs rising from $22 billion to $30 billion. 

[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change)

### Will you share with your friends?

[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) 

[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)

## More news

### [State commitments for 2030 put Australia within reach of global goals, but Morrison must step up](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/state-commitments-for-2030-put-australia-within-reach-of-global-goals-but-morrison-must-step-up)

State government emissions reductions commitments have put Australia within reach of meeting global...

### [Prince Charles issues a stern rebuke on Morrison's climate dithering](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/prince-charles-issues-a-stern-rebuke-on-morrisons-climate-dithering)

As PM Scott Morrison continues to dither on net zero, beset by his troublesome junior partners in...

### [As the G20 summit closes, Morrison's pants are ablaze](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/as-the-g20-summit-closes-morrisons-pants-are-ablaze)

As we head into the COP26 Climate Summit today, we’ve seen weakly-worded climate platitudes from...

Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***

[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)

[![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)

Connect with us <https://www.facebook.com/greenpeaceaustraliapacific/> <https://twitter.com/greenpeaceap?lang=en> <https://www.youtube.com/user/GreenpeaceAustralia> <https://www.instagram.com/greenpeaceap/>

**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)

 Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.

© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)