Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed his stance on renewables during his address at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia’s State of the Nation conference.
Speaking at the June 27 event, Mr. Albanese warned against wavering on Australia’s energy plan, saying the business sector had suffered as a result of instability.
The leader said there was strong investment interest in renewables as he renewed his stance against the opposition’s plan for seven nuclear reactors across the nation.
“Equally, we know that for too long, through a decade of chopping and changing and 22 different energy policies, the business community were in the hard place of moving ahead of government or acting in spite of government,” he said.
“In the past two years, you know how far we have come, the progress we have made.
“And you know the grave risk and great cost of falling back. That’s the true cost of nuclear power in Australia.”
Mr. Albanese accused the opposition of using nuclear power as “just another weapon in the culture wars.”
“Australia has every resource imaginable to succeed in this decisive decade,” he said.
“Critical minerals, rare earths, skills and space, and sunlight, the trade ties to our region. The only thing our nation does not have, is time to waste.”
It is time and money Mr. Albanese says he is afraid the country could lose under a nuclear plan.
The cost of nuclear power, from implementation through to lost productivity in the years leading up to its development, is a deficit the nation cannot afford, according to the prime minister.
The predicted costs of the opposition’s nuclear plan have not been released. Estimated guesses for the cost of setting up nuclear in the nation have returned a figure somewhere around at least $8.5 billion.
The comments come as the federal government prepares to introduce laws to parliament for its future made-in-Australia agenda, aimed at increasing the nation’s manufacturing sector.
Mr. Albanese said the proposal would help drive Australia to meet net-zero targets, while strengthening sovereign capability.
“For Australia to realise its full potential, we must draw on the talents of our whole population and extend opportunity to every part of our country,” he said.
“This is about lifting Australia up the international value chain, by lifting our national ambition. Australia is the best in the world at extracting and exporting our natural resources.
Nuclear Would Fuel Economy for Decades: Dutton
Evidently, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has a vastly different take on nuclear. He believes his policy is the way forward for both jobs and industry.This week, he told The Today Show he believed nuclear was the most economically productive plan for the country.
“I think is in our country’s best interests and in our long-term best interest,” he said.
“It’s going to underpin economic success and jobs for eight to 10 decades, almost the next century.
“So, there will be opponents and there will be people opposed to it, but I’ve made this decision because I think it’s in our country’s best interests.”
Mr. Dutton said if necessary, the federal government could overrule state governments on nuclear to ensure his plan would come to fruition if elected.
“I believe very strongly that the 19 biggest economies have got it right. Why is Australia an outlier?” he said.
“And why wouldn’t we embrace the technology that can deliver cheaper electricity costs? That’s the case in these other economies.”
Should Mr. Dutton be elected in the next Australian election, nuclear reactors would not be expected to be running until at least 2035-37.
