The Greens have moved to ban the use of taxpayers' money to build, buy or refurbish coal-fired power stations in Australia.

Federal MP Adam Bandt on Monday introduced a private bill to parliament that prohibits the government or its agencies from financially supporting the technology but still allows the use of public money to manage the closure of stations and transition workers.

"Investing in coal is about as sensible as investing in a company that builds fax machines and typewriters ... It should be illegal or unlawful to use public money in this way," he said.