Retreat on Paris emissions target may not save Malcolm Turnbull, by Simon Benson.

Malcolm Turnbull has dumped the government’s plans to legislate the 26 per cent Paris emissions-­reduction target, in a dramatic ­capitulation to rebel MPs and ministers threatening to cross the floor and vote it down. …

Under the backdown, the 2015 climate change commitment would be retained but mandated through a ministerial order and only after advice from the competition regulator that it would not ­increase power prices. …

The changes to the energy shake-up were swiftly condemned by Tony Abbott, who told The Weekend Australian he was concerned about whether the new plan would allow a future Shorten government to ramp up emissions-reduction targets more easily.

The Weekend Australian has also confirmed the Prime Minister will pursue an aggressive campaign to force down energy bills that will include arming the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission with divestiture powers to strip the big three energy ­companies of generation assets if their early closure leads to higher prices.