17 July 2024
Topics: Zero emissions nuclear energy, Muswellbrook, CFMEU
Ben Fordham
An operator says the idea of nuclear power stands no chance. He says the coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors will take too long to replace our aging coal generators. He says nuclear is an expensive form of energy and baseload energy simply can’t compete with wind and solar. Really, Daniel? A big call from the head of the Australian Energy Market Operator, and I reckon he knows that he went a little bit too far, Daniel Westerman, because he’s had to clarify his comments. He now says that the energy market operator does not form the view that one form of energy is good, and another is bad. The Shadow Energy Minister Ted O’Brien is on the line right now. Ted, good morning.
Ted O’Brien
Good morning, Ben.
Ben Fordham
It sounds like he’s trying to take his words back.
Ted O’Brien
Well, I would too, if I were him. It doesn’t make sense. And if you look around the world, nuclear in a balanced energy mix brings prices down and keeps the lights on. So, Australia is completely isolated right now. And the thought that we can do our electricity grid on wind and solar alone is economic lunacy, and it’s why we’re all being punished in our power bills right now.
Ben Fordham
Daniel Westerman says nuclear power is too slow, and it’s expensive as well. Look, I know he’s trying to clarify his comments, but it’s pretty clear Ted what he was trying to say, he was trying to say nuclear is bad and renewables are good.
Ted O’Brien
And this is the line from the Labor Party, Ben. We’re completely different on the coalition side, we are saying we need a balanced mix of technologies. Do we need renewables in the grid? Sure, we do. But I tell you what else we need. We need 24/7 baseload power. Right now, that’s coal, but as coal retires from the system, it should be replaced by a different 24/7 baseload power that’s always on, and that is zero emissions nuclear energy. But beyond all of that, we need more gas, more gas, more gas. We have to pour more gas into the system. Labors opposed to it.
Ben Fordham
You’ve been out and about talking about nuclear. How are the folks in Muswellbrook responding?
Ted O’Brien
Really good. Well, I was up there yesterday, actually, and I have to say when you’re talking to people in a community which understand energy inside out because they’ve been hosting baseload power stations for decades, right. They completely get it. You know, the comments from the market operator yesterday, Chris Bowen today in the media, saying we don’t need baseload power. I could not find one person in that Muswellbrook area, who is against baseload power. We have to have that 24/7 stability in the grid. And so, they know that we are going to eventually see coal plants retire and they’re very open minded about the possibility of not just zero emissions nuclear energy but doing a regional deal to set them up as a community for 80 to 100 years with this huge national asset.
Ben Fordham
On another issue, Ted O’Brien, we’ve revealed exclusively this morning that today the Labor Party is going to kick off a messy divorce with the CFMEU. It seems to happen in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. This is obviously welcome news.
Ted O’Brien
It is Ben, but I I’m bemused because they should have done this years ago. Albanese and the Labor Party has known the misbehaviour of the CFMEU for years, they did nothing about it. So, they should be deregistering the CFMEU, and they should be reinstating the Australian Building Construction Commission. I mean this is a joke. They got over $6 billion in donations from that union. That shouldn’t just be returned to the union, that should go to a better cause.
Ben Fordham
We appreciate you jumping on the line, and we’ll catch up soon.
Ted O’Brien
Thanks very much, Ben.