Why the coal lobby's reverse auction push might be an attempt to 'blow up' the debate

Craig Kelly's argument that a reverse auction would allow coal power plants to compete doesn't stack up

The latest push by pro-coal lobbyists and some Coalition MPs - for the clean energy target proposal to be dropped in favour of a reverse auction that could be used to fund a new coal power station - has left analysts wondering if they are actually trying to "blow up" the debate.

The idea was raised, after the Minerals Council of Australia - the coal lobby - suggested it to Coalition backbenchers, as part of a campaign against chief scientist Alan Finkel's clean energy target.