Decisive decade over energy starts now, Climate Change Minister says

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has taken a clear swipe at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plan, describing it as irresponsible policy with no substance.

He also said the Liberal leader should call out conspiracy theorists in Coalition ranks who continued to deny the reality of climate change science.

Addressing the National Press Club on Wednesday (17 July), Mr Bowen said the Opposition Leader’s recent dismissal of pathway targets to net-zero emissions by 2050 couldn’t be fixed by his plan for nuclear reactors strategically placed around the country.

“Let’s be clear, 2050 isn’t the start date for action – it’s the deadline for delivery,” the Minister said.

“Some people say they are committed to net zero by 2050 as if saying it is enough, and they can delay action to the late 2030s or indeed the 2040s.

“This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the task before us and of the opportunities before our country.”

Mr Dutton revealed his plan in June for the intended locations of seven nuclear power stations he will build across Australia if the Coalition wins the next federal election.

Beyond providing dots on the map, the Opposition Leader gave scant information about his plan.

There were no costings and only a rough timeline committing to having the first plants in operation between 2035 (if using smaller module reactors) and 2037 (if larger reactors are chosen).

His plan would involve the Federal Government owning the assets but forming partnerships with experienced nuclear companies to build and operate them.

A community partnership would also be formed in each host community, consisting of experienced local representatives, to help with local engagement and play a role in planning the future of their regions.

Mr Bowen used his press club speech to say the Dutton plan provided a clear choice for the decade ahead.

“In many ways, the course of this decade will be shaped by the choice the Australian people will make in the next 12 months,” the Minister said.

“Australians will have a choice between paying for Peter Dutton’s uncosted, unexplained and undeliverable nuclear reactors, or continuing with the Albanese Government and the experts’ plan to get on with the job of delivering more reliable, cheap renewables, bringing down emissions at the same time.”

The Minister described a “decade of energy policy chaos” causing Australians to now pay the “price for that inaction” and creating an energy sector that was vulnerable to international price spikes and ageing coal plants.

“Responsible energy policy matters, not just for our future but for the reality today,” he said.

“Every home and business needs reliable, affordable power …

“We could have been generating the cheapest power available, had there been deliberate, considered policy over the last decade.

“Instead there were 22 policies and none of them stuck. And we know Australians are paying more as a result.”

He said since coming to office, Labor had responded with two rounds of energy bill rebates, and was working towards greater consumer protections with the states and territories.

But ultimately, he said, lower energy bills for homes and businesses relied on the delivery of reliable renewables, firmed by gas, storage and pumped hydro.

“In relation to our grid, investment is vital now,” he said.

“We lost 4 gigawatts of dispatchable energy over the last decade, replaced by just one gigawatt.

“That means we don’t have the luxury of delaying investment in new generation for another 15 or 20 years while we wait for a new form of energy generation that Australia has never had.

“Australia is unique in our abundance of reliable renewable resources.

“Of course, other countries have renewables. But we have the best.

“Our sun and wind are there for us to harness and power our homes, industry and communities.

“But there remains an urgent need to modernise our energy system, to ensure the power is getting where it’s needed.”

Noting that climate change denial was now firmly a minority opinion, the Minister said Mr Dutton should not tolerate deniers and conspiracy theorists – particularly those of the Coalition’s elected party members.

“The science of climate change is now as certain as the science that tobacco causes cancer,” Mr Bowen said, adding that anyone who didn’t believe tobacco causes cancer would hardly be convinced otherwise by him.

The same applied to hardline climate change deniers, he suggested.