Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg insists he values the opinion of colleagues as a group of coalition backbenchers work together to lobby for new coal-fired power.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly is part of the new 'Monash Forum', which is said to have more than 20 government members including outspoken former prime minister Tony Abbott and Nationals MP George Christensen.
The new forum is named after World War I military commander (Sir) John Monash, who was a key figure in opening Victoria's Latrobe Valley up to coal production.
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Mr Kelly says they are worried about the high cost of electricity and want to see new coal-fired power stations in any national energy guarantee.
"With so much anti-coal rhetoric around in the community we want to ensure that people understand and we're a voice about how important coal is to our economy," Mr Kelly told ABC radio.
Mr Frydenberg, who spoke to Mr Kelly on Tuesday, said he continues to talk to his colleagues about energy and he values their opinions.
"What they want to see and what we want to see is exactly the same thing, which is lower prices and a more reliable system," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"Coal has an important part to play in that role."
But the minister pointed out Sir John himself valued new technology.
"He saw it as an opportunity, whether it was on the battlefield or in the energy system, and he would look at the transformation that is currently under way in our energy system and use it as an opportunity to drive more innovation and to drive lower power prices," Mr Frydenberg said.
Mr Kelly described the national energy guarantee, being pushed by Mr Frydenberg and Malcolm Turnbull, as a "very good backbone of a policy" but said they are waiting to see the parameters of how technology-neutral it will be.
