Instead, the Greens will defend the Renewable Energy Target, stand up to protect solar and wind power, reduce greenhouse pollution and generate jobs from research to roll out, Greens Leader Christine Milne says.

“Tony Abbott is last century's man on energy policy,” she said.

“The Prime Minister’s ideological aversion to renewable energy is dangerous because by putting coal first, he will inflict upon the country stranded fossil fuel assets, runaway global warming and a rust bucket economy.

“His suggesting we have too much generation capacity is code for propping up coal-fired generators and crushing competition from renewable energy by slashing the LRET target from its current 41,000GW/h.

“The coal energy of last century is dying. The answer is not to prop up fossil fuels by slashing renewables, it is to invest more in the clean energy of the future.”

Abbott wants to stop competition from renewable energy in its tracks as he continues with fossil fuel subsidies, Milne said.

“Tony Abbott talks about ending corporate welfare and using our comparative advantage but is doing neither,” she said.

“The Greens agree, we should end fossil fuel subsidies, and as one of the sunniest and windiest countries in the world, we should identify the clean energy sector as our competitive advantage.

“Meanwhile, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is making money for taxpayers, and has almost 180 clean energy projects in the pipeline.

“Our renewable energy sector is just getting started and our Prime Minister wants to cut it off at the knees.”