Malcolm Turnbull has thrown his support behind a proposal to build a coal-fired power station in north Queensland as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk calls for fairness across the national market.
The prime minister says the Liberal National Party opposition's plan to build a coal-fired power plant would be deserving of a share in the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility's $5 billion in funds.
"It would be a very worthy candidate for that," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.
His three-day visit coincides with speculation Ms Palaszczuk is close to calling the state election and follows a two-day visit by federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
LNP leader Tim Nicholls has committed to building a "low-emissions" station in response to a domestic base power shortage if he wins government.
He would consider funding it with taxpayer money taken from renewable energy.
During her speech to a business luncheon in Brisbane on Wednesday, Ms Palaszczuk called on other states to lift their weight, claiming Queenslanders were paying more for an energy shortfall in other states.
"Queensland is the only mainland state in the national electricity market that is not expecting a shortfall in electricity generation," she said.
"I want to see a rewrite of the national electricity market rules, because they are outdated and unfair.
"It is unfair that the decision of other states to privatise electricity assets is hurting Queensland power prices, even as the federal government seeks to intervene in those privatised assets.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was also unfair Queensland prices were higher because other states weren't developing their gas basins.
Mr Nicholls took issue with Ms Palaszczuk's handling of the energy crisis.
"As premier, she's ripped out 100 per cent dividends from the government's energy businesses, loaded them up with $5 billion of debt and allowed government-owned generator Stanwell Corporation to price gouge and drive up electricity prices," he said in a statement.
"It's clear that Queensland government-owned network businesses took advantage of relaxed controls on network expenditure - and all of this on Labor's watch."
