Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has been barred from touring the troubled Tomago aluminium smelter, where she planned to hold a press conference, with her office blaming the Albanese government for scuttling the visit.

The opposition leader's office alerted the media to the "picture opportunity and doorstop" at the Rio Tinto-owned smelter, to be held just after 10:00am on Friday.

However, Ms Ley's office has revealed the visit to the plant, near Newcastle, was cancelled at the last minute, forcing the opposition leader to change her plans.

Rio Tinto this week told the more than 1,000 workers that it was considering closing the 40-year-old plant because of high electricity costs.

The shock announcement has sparked opposition accusations that Labor's energy policies, and pursuit of a renewa

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