ARE we to believe that the collective wisdom of Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen, outweigh that of 20 of the world’s most influential nations?
That’s what they’d arrogantly have you think.
Treat their word as gospel when it comes to Australia’s energy future.
Yes, the LNP’s nuclear announcement is bold, but it’s necessary.
Every Australian, every resident of Forde, deserves and should expect access to reliable and affordable electricity.
Under Labor, that will never happen.
With a renewables-only policy, that will never happen.
Power bills have increased by up to $1,000 more than the Albanese government promised.
Will that rise magically dissipate over the next few years?
Not a hope.
Ninety per cent of baseload electricity, predominantly coal fired power stations, is coming to the end of life over the next decade.
It’s common sense that a plan is needed to reduce power prices and secure cheaper, cleaner and consistent energy for Australians.
Zero-emissions nuclear energy will complement renewables and gas to get prices down and keep the lights on as we decarbonise.
I’m certain that someone in the prime minister’s office was already putting finishing touches on a three-eyed fish Simpsons graphic before Peter Dutton had even finished his policy announcement speech.
That’s the level of debate and discourse we have come to expect from the Labor government and their swathe of spin doctors.
It’s the level of debate we’ll likely get right up to the election.
Out of the world’s 20 largest economies, Australia is the only one not using nuclear energy, or moving towards it.
There are more than 400 reactors operating worldwide today.
The life of the latest nuclear technology is around 80 years as opposed to 20 years for wind turbines.
Modern zero-emissions nuclear plants can be plugged into existing poles and wires, currently utilised by the coal fired power plants they’ll replace.
This means they can effectively replace retired or retiring coal plants and avoid much of the $1.2 – 1.5 trillion of the new spending needed for Labor’s ‘renewables-only’ system, including new transmission lines.
Our zero-emissions nuclear energy programme will consist of two phases: starting with two establishment projects in the mid-2030s followed by a buildout of projects though to 2050.
This will underpin economic security and jobs for generations to come.
