Labor says Australia can remain energy 'superpower' – but only if climate wars end

Pat Conroy says Australia can replace thermal coal exports with renewable energy and also develop hydrogen economy

Australia is in a position to replace thermal coal exports with the export of renewable energy technologies if the parliament can settle an energy policy and end a decade of policy chaos, the Labor frontbencher Pat Conroy says.

The shadow assistant minister for climate change and energy will use an appearance at a renewable energy conference on Thursday to argue that Australia can remain an energy export "superpower" during the transition to low-emissions energy - "it just won't be fossilised carbon, instead it will be wind and solar power".