Energy and national security will top the agenda when Malcolm Turnbull meets with state and territory leaders in Hobart.
Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting will receive the final report by chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel into the national electricity system, which is expected to recommend a new "low emissions target".
The target, which could have the backing of Labor depending on the fine detail, would mandate a proportion of power each year come from generators below a set pollution threshold.
The prime minister is keen to get the states and territories on board a new policy to ease pressure on power bills, improve the reliability of the electricity grid and cut emissions.
Bill Shorten has written to Mr Turnbull extending an olive branch to end what the Labor leader describes as the "ongoing fighting and division over climate change".
"We are prepared to work with the government to make sure we put a price signal on emissions and we're prepared to do it because we've got to take real action on climate change," Mr Shorten told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
Host premier Will Hodgman said he would be pushing for his state to be the "nation's renewable energy battery", with a focus on wind farms.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will underline her state's commitment to 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, but will have a state task force examine and roll out the Finkel report recommendations.
Like other premiers, Ms Palaszczuk will be seeking Mr Turnbull's backing for infrastructure funding - in her case, money for the Cross River Rail project.
In the absence of federal funds, the state government - which has committed $850 million - would have to decide whether to proceed with the project without that money, or seek alternate funding arrangements, possibly from the private sector.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will take a proposal to have armed Australian Federal Police at airports round the clock.
The leaders will be briefed by national security officials on the latest terrorism advice and discuss ways to tighten parole for people with links to terror.
Suggestions have ranged from allowing attorneys-general to intervene, to enabling ASIO and the AFP to make direct submissions to parole boards.
The prime minister, premiers and chief ministers will be greeted by a rally - dubbed the "People's COAG" - involving union members and community leaders seeking policies to tackle rising inequality.
"People are working harder but it's harder to get ahead. They are struggling through record low wages growth, jobs are being casualised and having their penalty rates attacked," said Jessica Munday, secretary of Unions Tasmania.
