Anthony Albanese has denied his tour through Queensland's mining regions is at odds with Labor's commitment to tackle climate change.
The federal opposition leader is attempting to find a balance between winning back blue-collar votes in the state's mining regions and sticking with Labor's stance on climate change.
Mr Albanese sees no contradiction between visiting mining communities and having strong climate change policies.
"There is no question that we need to act on climate change. That's what the last Labor government did and that is what we will do as well," he told ABC radio on Thursday.
He believes the coal industry will face a global shift towards renewable energy.
"Very clearly, I don't think there'll be another coal-fired power station built in Australia," he said.
"There will be a transition that needs to occur here in Australia towards zero emissions, but there also needs to be strong international action."
Mr Albanese said the majority of coal exports from Gladstone in regional Queensland, where he visited a smelter on Thursday, were used to build steel rather than generate power.
"That, of course, plays an important role in our economy and in our lives."
The Australian Energy Market Operator expects more than 30 gigawatts of new clean power generation will be needed over the next 20 years.
In that period, almost two-thirds of Australia's coal-fired power is set to end its technical life.
The Labor leader said Boyne Smelters was looking at solar power backed up with existing coal-fired generation.
"It's a great example of how people and companies are looking towards renewables at a time when the federal government is letting business down," Mr Albanese told reporters in Gladstone.
"Companies are looking at renewables as the way of the future."
Mr Albanese will also visit Bundaberg Rum Distillery before ending the day at a Christmas party for local Labor members in Maryborough.
Labor copped a hiding in Queensland at the last election, with the party's primary vote dropping to 27.4 per cent.
A confusing stance on coal and the cost of the party's climate action bit hard, with debate over Adani's Carmichael coal mine front and centre during the campaign.
Mr Albanese has called on Adani to deliver the jobs it promised.
Australian Associated Press
