Labor denies breakaway pro-coal group points to division on climate policy

Anthony Albanese says he was unaware of factional dinner and his MPs are united on wanting action on emissions reduction

Labor MPs have sought to downplay suggestions of a breakaway pro-coal group within the party, as the Coalition seized on the report to accuse the opposition of divisions over climate policy.

Following a report by Channel Ten on Wednesday night that a group of about 20 right-aligned Labor MPs dined regularly to canvass policies in support of coal workers, attention shifted from the Coalition's internal ructions over climate policy to Labor.