Australia’s potential for renewable energy production is enormous. Our rich mineral resources, world-leading mining technologies and abundant sunshine and wind give us the chance to lead the world as the global economy moves toward clean energy.
We have everything we need to become a global leader in renewable energy. By taking action now, we can create well-paid jobs in new industries and ensure a strong future for our country and our children. We simply need strong political leadership that thinks beyond the next three years.
Virtually everyone we’ve spoken to in Moore simply wants a reliable, affordable and decarbonised energy system. That’s one goal with three attributes. We accept that the transition can’t happen overnight, but without clear targets we won’t be doing our bit for future generations.
Despite the decades of government inaction, Australians have still made progress - with 40% of our electricity coming from renewables already. But we need to fast track the transition and achieve greater gains to secure our prosperous clean energy future to support other sectors in those transition needs.
I will advocate for:
- Investing in a highly skilled workforce to support the energy transition.
- Supporting households and businesses in electrification and democratisation of energy, reducing energy costs for all while promoting a cleaner environment.
- Ensuring a just transition for workers and communities affected by changes in industrial policy or industry diversification.
- Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
- An ambitious domestic carbon emissions reduction target for 2035 that is evidence-based.
- Transitioning our exports from fossil fuels to critical minerals, rare earths, and value-added manufacturing.
A note on nuclear energy
According to Peter Dutton, this election is a referendum on his nuclear energy plan. I am not inherently opposed to nuclear energy; however, currently there is no suitable solution for nuclear waste. Further, while nuclear energy is considered safe, it remains a high-risk industry due to the possible catastrophic outcomes if failures occur. Given these considerations, there needs to be compelling reasons to justify the use of nuclear power.
In Australia’s case, the Coalition’s plan is simply not justified. We have enormous capacity for cheaper and safer renewable options. When these are supported by storage and firming technologies, they will deliver more reliable and cheaper energy as well as less emissions.
The Coalition’s nuclear plan has been debunked by peer-reviewed reports. The evidence is clear that the plan does not stack up and the data does not support the Coalition’s claims. I will not support the Coalition’s plan for the following reasons:
- The required nuclear projects will not be completed before current coal and gas generators reach their end-of-life cycles. This will risk reliability and significantly increase costs due to extending the life cycle of the existing old plants.
- The total costs for the Coalition’s plan are not accurately portrayed in its commissioned report. The claims for nuclear energy being cheaper are not accurate.
- The Coalition’s plan artificially caps other sources of energy such as renewables, which are the cheapest sources of energy already and will continue to get cheaper.
- Some proposed sites, such the WA Muja Power station site (near Collie), have serious viability issues.
- The net result of the plan will increase our domestic emissions significantly by 2050, not reduce them.
- The plan will cost consumers more, by delaying investments in renewable options and locking in high-cost plans now for the next 60-80 years.
References:
https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2024/december/nuclear-explainer
https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-02/Assessing%20the%20impact%20of%20a%20nuclear%20pathway%20on%20Australia%27s%20emissions%20%28FINAL%29.pdf
https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/getmedia/0d4c1b8f-3974-4ee2-a6fd-d3b043d6f1dd/cec-briefing-note_analysis-of-frontier-s-second-report-on-costs-of-nuclear-power-for-aus_dec24.pdf
https://www.frontier-economics.com.au/economic-analysis-of-including-nuclear-power-in-the-nem/
Environment and biodiversity
In Moore we love our clean beaches, marine sanctuaries and natural environment. Yet we know that human activities can have devastating effects on our fragile ecosystems.
Ecosystems are interconnected and we too are part of nature. We can have population and industry growth and development within our region, but we need clear and efficient processes to help us all protect what’s special to us. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing choice. Clever planning and evidence-based decision making can enable us to protect our environment while still living within it.
We need to get the politics out of protecting the environment and establish an independent body guided by science and integrity. An independent body such as the proposed EPA would meet this need.
I’ll advocate for world-class environmental protections that enable businesses to operate with certainty, clarity and efficiency.