Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind coal exports ahead of a tour of regional Queensland.
But the federal opposition leader has been challenged to say three words during his visit to coal country: "I support Adani."
Mr Albanese says Australia can continue to mine and export coal while also having strong climate change policies.
"If Australia stopped exporting today there would not be less demand for coal - the coal would come from a different place," he told Nine newspapers on Monday.
"So it would not reduce emissions - which has to be the objective. I don't see a contradiction between that and having a strong climate change policy."
Greens MP Adam Bandt savaged the Labor leader.
"The argument that if we don't sell them coal someone else will - that's the drug pusher's argument," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"We don't sell people asbestos any more because we know it does harm when used as directed - we need a plan to get off coal."
Mr Bandt said keeping coal in Australia's energy mix was "a recipe for more deaths".
"Liberal and Labor are now on a coal-fuelled unity ticket towards destruction," he said.
"It seems that the Greens not only have to take on 'Prime Minister Smoko' but 'Anthony Coalbanese' as well."
Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the trip presented a test for Mr Albanese and the Labor Party.
"They say now they support the export of coal," Senator Canavan told Sky News.
"I haven't heard Anthony Albanese say three simple words: 'I support Adani.'"
Senator Canavan has also been leading the charge for a new coal-fired power station to be built in north Queensland.
However, Mr Albanese has shot down the idea.
"I think, very clearly, it is obvious to all that there won't be a new coal-fired power station built in Australia," he told Sydney radio 2GB.
"The market is indicating that just won't happen.
"There's nothing stopping it at all except for the economics, and the economics just don't stack up compared to the other alternatives that are there."
Mr Albanese's visit to regional Queensland comes as the Labor Party lays the foundations for policies it will be taking to the next federal election.
Party members are debating how to approach climate change and how ambitious the party should be in relation to its emissions reduction target.
A recent review of the May federal election found Labor's ambiguous language around the Adani coal mine cost the party votes in northern and central Queensland and other coal mining regions.
Mr Albanese flies to Barcaldine in western Queensland on Tuesday before setting out on a four-day tour.
Australian Associated Press
