PREMIER John Brumby is ''completely confident'' Australia's dirtiest power station will be closed, with or without federal help.

Yesterday The Age reported the federal government had cast doubt over Victoria's request for funding to start closing Hazelwood power station.

Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the Gillard government's priority on climate change was to introduce a carbon price.

The commitment to close one-quarter of the coal power plant, in the Latrobe Valley, by 2014 is crucial to the government's legislated target of cutting emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020.

''I want to make it very clear that this is vital action, which is needed for Victoria to get this staged closure and one way or another we will get this staged closure,'' Mr Brumby said.