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Debate has begun on the federal government's proposed energy relief measures as the coalition confirms it won't back the new laws.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged MPs to choose to help Australians who are being confronted with "unsustainable, unacceptable" energy price rises, by supporting the proposal.

"Without intervention, next financial year retail gas prices are expected to increase by a further 20 per cent and electricity prices by a further 36 per cent," he told parliament.

"That's why urgent action is needed."

Dr Chalmers said the government respected the role the gas industry played in Australia's economy but had a responsibility to find a solution to protect Australians from increasing power bills.

The new laws propose to cap gas at $12 a gigajoule, introduce a mandatory code of conduct for the gas market and roll out power bill support for welfare recipients.

Labor has a majority in the lower house, and the Greens and independent senator David Pocock have confirmed they would side with the government in the Senate.

Greens leader Adam Bandt sought an amendment to freeze power bills for the next two years by increasing taxes on gas and coal companies.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie also supported a windfall tax on energy companies who were "shamelessly profiteering" off the war in Ukraine and soaring prices, at the expense of Australian consumers.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the coalition backed relief measures but wouldn't back the bill as it did not want market intervention.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the former coalition government had been "addicted to power and hopeless on energy".

"Now they're seeking to stand in the way of this urgent action because they imagine that somehow it serves their political agenda," he said.

"Vote for this plan and be part of the solution or vote against it and be part of the problem."

Mr Dutton said the government appeared to be "building the plane on the runway" when it came to energy relief and had presented a plan at the last minute.

He said the government's proposal would create market uncertainty and reduce investment which would ultimately make bills go up.

But Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage said energy contracts for next financial year were already heading in the right direction, easing fears prices were set to skyrocket.

She said government modelling showing prices would be $230 less than expected was likely around the mark.

"Since the government started talking about intervention in fuel markets in the October budget, the cost of one of those contracts has already fallen about 45 to 50 per cent in NSW and Queensland," she told ABC Radio.

"If these markets keep trading as they are right now, we should see an increase next year that's much lower than what we'd originally feared."

The treasurer urged all MPs to be on the "right side" of solving the nation's energy woes.

"That's what this choice, this coming vote, really comes down to: higher power prices or lower power prices, relief on energy bills or no relief, protecting Australian industry and jobs or leaving (them) swinging in the breeze," he said.

"This bill is in the national interest for all Australians."

© AAP 2022

The coalition won't back proposed energy measures set to pass through parliament on Thursday despite Australia's regulator suggesting mere talk of intervention is already driving market prices down.

Both houses of parliament are meeting to debate the federal government's proposal to cap gas at $12 a gigajoule, introduce a mandatory code of conduct for the gas market and roll out power bill support for welfare recipients.

While Labor has a majority in the lower house, the Greens and independent senator David Pocock confirmed they would side with the government in the Senate.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said his party backed relief measures but wouldn't back the bill as it doesn't support market intervention.

"The government is more interested in the political advantage than trying to help families ... we don't support market intervention that is going to disrupt investment into our country," he told reporters.

"The fact is power prices will continue to go up and up and up under this government because they've got no idea what they're doing."

Mr Dutton claimed the coalition only received the proposed legislation at 8.45pm on Wednesday - just 12 hours before it hits parliament - although Energy Minister Chris Bowen disputed that claim.

"The opposition received an hour-long briefing two days ago from my department ... they don't want to play ball, they don't want to be constructive, their talking points have basically been the gas companies' talking points," he told Seven.

"The shadow minister said on Sunday he'd read the bill and that was why he's voting against it ... Peter Dutton said he hasn't seen the bill, so pick your argument."

In exchange for the Greens' support, the government has agreed to an additional support package in next year's budget to help low-income households and businesses switch from gas to electricity.

But Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage said energy contracts for next financial year were already heading in the right direction, allaying fears prices are set to skyrocket.

She said government modelling showing prices would be $230 less than expected was likely around the mark.

"Since the government started talking about intervention in fuel markets in the October budget, the cost of one of those contracts has already fallen about 45 to 50 per cent in NSW and Queensland," she told ABC Radio.

"If these markets keep trading as they are right now, we should see an increase next year that's much lower than what we'd originally feared."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has urged all MPs to be on the "right side" of solving the nation's energy woes.

"Today coalition MPs around the country have a choice: they can vote for cheaper power prices and more household assistance for families and businesses doing it tough or they can vote for higher energy prices and no help for families," he said.

© AAP 2022

The World Health Organisation is optimistic that the global health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic can be lifted in 2023.

They hope is to be able to say next year "this is not a pandemic anymore," WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Wednesday.

He added however: "The virus is here to stay."

However, the world has the tools - vaccines, medicines and codes of conduct - to deal with it, he said.

The number of cases of Mpox, as monkeypox has been renamed, has also fallen by more than 90 per cent and there have been no new cases of Ebola in Uganda for a while now, Tedros said.

Looking ahead to 2023, he said, "There are many reasons for hope and many reasons for concern."

He mentioned, among other things, looming famine, especially in parts of Africa, continuing poor sanitation in many places, unhealthy diets and malaria and tuberculosis.

The WHO cannot declare a pandemic "over".

The term pandemic does not even appear in the WHO's toolkit, the International Health Regulations (IHR).

It can only lift the "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC) described therein and declared at the end of 2020 because of the coronavirus.

The declaration of an emergency is primarily intended to wake up governments so that they take protective measures and co-operate.

However, each country imposes conditions separately.

An independent council of experts regularly examines the global situation and recommends to the WHO whether an emergency should be lifted or maintained.

© DPA 2022