07/06/24
The Albanese Labor Government has signed an international trade agreement supporting the expansion of zero-emissions nuclear energy in the Indo Pacific, the same week the Prime Minister launched a fact-free scare campaign about the clean energy technology in Australia.
Signatories to the agreement have formally recognised the important role zero-emissions nuclear energy will play in ensuring energy security while also providing clean and affordable energy.
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O’Brien has slammed the Albanese Labor Government’s hypocrisy, lambasting the Prime Minister for his lack of integrity.
“How can Anthony Albanese spend the week inciting scare campaigns about zero-emissions nuclear energy on home soil while simultaneously signing up to the introduction of the clean energy technology across our region of the Indo Pacific?” Mr O’Brien said.
“Labor is blatantly treating Australians like mugs with this rank display of hypocrisy.”
Prime Minister Albanese went to X (twitter) this week to warn Australians that nuclear energy was ‘risky’ and a ‘threat’ while remaining silent about his Trade Minister signing an international agreement supporting small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Indo Pacific.
Trade Minister Don Farrell signed the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Clean Economy Agreement in Singapore overnight, promoting the advancement and deployment of clean energy technology.
The agreement was signed by all 14 member states of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) including, Australia, the United States, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam and Fiji.
The international agreement follows a combative week in Parliament with Labor repeatedly denigrating the role of zero-emissions nuclear energy around the world, including misleading comments in Question Time from Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen.
“Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen told Parliament the world was turning its back on nuclear energy in the very same week that two new nuclear power plants opened in the United States as they reaffirmed a commitment to triple their nuclear capacity and an international arrangement was finalised in support of SMRs in the Indo Pacific.
“The fact the Australian Government is also a signatory to this deal makes Labor’s doublespeak even more duplicitous.”
“While our regional partners in the Indo-Pacific take steps to bolster energy security and further their economic prosperity by embracing nuclear energy, Australia is becoming increasingly isolated as it maintains a moratorium against the technology.
“Refusing to embrace cheap, clean and consistent 24/7 power offered by zero-emissions nuclear energy as part of a balanced energy mix leaves Australians to continue suffering from energy poverty as our nation becomes increasingly vulnerable due to a lack of energy security.”
ENDS
Contact: Ted O’Brien MP – Mitch Bland – 0401 257 064