A contentious plan to open new coalfields in the Latrobe Valley has been quietly shelved until after the state election amid public anxiety over the Hazelwood mine fire and concern within the Napthine government that it could trigger a backlash in vulnerable seats.

With the election just six weeks away, the major parties are shying away from commitments to allow new coalfields despite the Coalition having called for expressions of interest in billions of tonnes of brown coal and industry insiders saying they are confident new licences could be just months away whoever forms government.

Still a hot issue: the Hazelwood coal mine fire. Credit:Keith Pakenham

A senior government insider told The Sunday Age there would be no announcements on coal before the election, citing lingering disquiet over the Hazelwood mine fire that forced some residents to leave the area in February and concern it could cost votes in seats such as Morwell, held by Energy Minister Russell Northe, and inner-city Prahran, held by Liberal Clem Newton-Brown.

"The last thing the Coalition wants to do is draw attention to environment policy, because there isn't one," the source said, noting that both the Coalition and Labor appeared to have sidelined green-related issues in the campaign.