In his keynote speaker address at the Brisbane-based conference yesterday, Macfarlane said 130,000 Australian families rely on the coal industry for income and more than three-quarters of the country's energy is sourced from burning coal.

Comparing his party's stance on clean coal with that of the Labor Party, Macfarlane said establishing a market for clean coal power was crucial to ensure the success of the technology.

"Developing clean coal technology is one thing. The industry also needs a market for the more expensive electricity generated by clean coal power," Macfarlane said.

"Here again the differences between the parties are stark."

Macfarlane said that Labor had turned its back on clean coal technology, excluding it from its clean energy target.

"That decision is political, not economic or environmental. It shows that Labor policy is driven by Green preferences, not what will deliver the best economic or greenhouse results," he said.

"Labor's decision confirms again their bias in favour of renewables at the expense of clean coal."

Macfarlane said that Labor "long ago let slip its real agenda" on coal.

"Shadow environment spokesman Peter Garrett told the Newcastle Herald in January that expansion of the coal industry is 'a thing of the past'," he said.

"Jobs and exports don't feature in Peter Garrett's thinking.

"While the Labor Party prefers slogans over substance, the Coalition will continue its practical support for clean coal technology. That is the key difference which everyone involved in the industry should know."