Climate change is not only an environmental issue, but it is an economic, health and national security issue too. Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower, however we need the Federal Government to show leadership when it comes to acting on Climate Change.

Australia’s environment is also under severe threat. We are a world leader in land clearing while many of our iconic species such as the koala face extinction if we don’t act urgently.

My key climate, energy and environment policy priorities are:

• Achieving a minimum 50% reduction in climate pollution by 2030
• Achieving Net Zero emissions by at least 2050, and ideally before
• Driving Australia's transition to clean energy and storage by supporting research and development in technologies and delivering an interconnected grid
• Becoming a renewable energy superpower by achieving at least 85% renewable energy by 2030
• Phasing out fossil fuels such as coal and gas
• Protecting our oceans by ending the practice of offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling
• Electrifying our homes and businesses
• Electrifying our transport sector by making it cheaper for all Australians to access electric cars and electric utes
• Protecting our native forests by ending native forest logging
• Supporting communities experiencing and recovering from extreme weather disasters
• Developing long-term adaptation strategies in response to climate change

My actions on climate, energy and environment policy:

• Successfully convinced the Government to protect our precious aquifers from fracking by expanding the “water trigger” so all gas projects are subject to federal scrutiny 
• Negotiated improvements to the safeguard mechanism to ensure Australia’s biggest polluters reduce their emissions
• Called for the establishment of a National Health, Wellbeing and Climate Strategy which is now full funded
• Introduced a Private Members Motion to end the logging of our public native forests
• Moved amendments to the Government’s proposed Sea Dumping Bill to ensure it is not used as a front to expand the fossil fuel industry
• Led calls for an end to offshore oil and gas drilling and seconded Zali Steggall MP’s Stop PEP-11 and Protect Our Coast Bill
• Strongly advocated for an end to taxpayer funded fossil fuel subsidies – which cost us $10 billion every year
• Pushed the Government to make EVs cheaper and affordable for families and small businesses

My take on the energy debate:

Energy affordability and reliability are paramount for households and businesses across Australia and are critical if we are to rebuild the manufacturing and industry base here in Australia. 

The Coalition’s nuclear power announcement consumed much of the national political debate last month.

With climate change driving the need for a rapid energy transition both here and around the world – it is reasonable that all options for a non-fossil fuel energy future be on the table for consideration and comparison. My position is that technology is not political or ideological and each technology must be assessed on its merits and grounded on feasibility and facts.

The Coalition’s proposal however, provided scant detail for their planned energy transformation leaving many unanswered questions. It was rejected by big business, the large energy providers themselves, and state leaders across the country.

As it stands, the numbers for nuclear do not stack up – including cost, timing and amount of supply. 

Simply put, nuclear power would mean higher electricity bills for households and businesses. According to research by the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) - nuclear is the most expensive form of energy. Additionally, the cost to taxpayers for the construction of Coalition's series of 7 reactors would be immense - up to $600 billion - and would not be complete until closer to 2050. Even then, this plan is only projected to produce a fraction of our nation’s energy needs. 

Timing is also a major barrier to the uptake of nuclear in Australia. Optimistically it would take 15-20 years to construct just the first of the large-scale nuclear power plants. And just last week the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering reported that small modular nuclear reactors are not likely to be available commercially until the late 2040s.

So, here’s the crux of the problem - we currently rely on coal fired power plants to supply over 50% of our electricity needs. However, the majority of our coal power plants are end-of-life and unreliable – such that 90% are due for closure by 2030. This means that nuclear power is not a viable solution to replace this looming shortfall in energy supply. 

Renewables, on the other hand, already generate 40% of our energy needs and long duration energy storage technology is rapidly evolving and becoming cheaper. This means that renewable energy will continue to be the cheapest and most reliable solution to fill the fast approaching energy void.

Importantly, for the best chance to leave a safe planet for our children and future generations, the time for action on climate change is now – before 2030, not in 2040. 

As it currently stands – nuclear would be too little, too late and too expensive.