A maverick Nationals MP is on a mission to secure foreign coal investment, as his government colleagues try to sell states on a technology-neutral energy future.
Maverick Nationals MP George Christensen is on a mining industry-funded mission to get the Japanese government to build new coal-fired power stations in Australia.
Tasked with hand-delivering letters to major Japanese companies and government leaders, Senator Christensen is following orders from Resources Minister Matt Canavan.
At the same time the Turnbull government is trying to secure support for its national energy guarantee by convincing state and territory ministers its policy is technology-neutral and not wedded to coal.
But the Victorian government says it won't sign up to the deal unless Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull can convince the "climate sceptics" in his own coalition partyroom to back the policy.
State and territory energy ministers have had several days to mull over the full plan, released by the Energy Security Board ahead of a meeting with their federal counterpart Josh Frydenberg next month.
Victorian minister Lily D'Ambrosio told the Clean Energy Council's national summit in Sydney on Tuesday the prime minister was trying to get state support for something that hadn't gone to his own partyroom.
"Every time we get close to a national energy policy, the coalition party room shoots it down," she said.
"How can we have any confidence in what they're asking from us if it hasn't been through his party room first?"
The policy has been debated but has not gone to a full vote of Liberal and Nationals MPs.
Some backbenchers believe the future remains in coal, while the Nationals claim an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report makes the case for investment in "clean" coal.
Senator Canavan's letter to the Japanese government calls on them to consider investing in new high efficiency, low emission coal technology in Australia.
Senior cabinet ministers are less convinced.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said any decision to back new coal in Australia would be a matter for the Japanese government or private sector but there would have to be a business case and it would need to be economically viable.
Ahead of the August 13 meeting Mr Frydenberg is more hopeful than confident his national energy guarantee will get the support it needs.
"It's certainly in the national interest," he told ABC radio.
