Nationals senator Matt Canavan has again called on the federal government to dig out some funding to build a coal power plant, but the Morrison government’s new energy policies mean new coal power is dead, if not buried.

Nevertheless, support for a new coal plant remains an impossible test for Nationals leader Michael McCormack.

Senator Canavan on Tuesday released a Nationals backbench policy for new coal power, which he said would lower electricity prices and grow manufacturing.

“We believe the government should build a coal-fired power station because that remains Australia’s cheapest form of reliable power,” he said.

Read the full article on The Sydney Morning Herald website, featuring commentary by Prof Frank Jotzo