“Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg made a major energy speech [today] and it is clear the government has dropped its Liddell [power station] hoax,” he said.

“Less than a month ago, the extension of Liddell’s life became the centrepiece of the government’s energy crisis response. 

“Today it is gone.

“The Prime Minister’s pronouncement of the Liddell extension was a cruel hoax on Hunter residents, which unnecessarily provided false hope to those working in our electricity generation sector.

“Ironically, in his speech, Josh Frydenberg cited AGL’s cleaner energy investment plan as an example of the right way forward in energy policy.

“The Prime Minister should apologise for treating Hunter residents like mugs.”