24 June 2024
Topics: Matt Kean appointment to Climate Change Authority, nuclear energy, climate trigger, Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
E&OE
Kieran Gilbert:
Welcome back to the program. Big news today with the Prime Minister appointing Matt Kean as the Chair of the Climate Change Authority. Joining me now is the Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam. Senator, thanks for your time. Barnaby Joyce says it’s treacherous from Matt Kean. What do you say? Do you agree with him?
Senator Duniam:
Well, I don’t think anyone who knows Matt, who knows his politics, where he stands on particular issues, would be in any way surprised to see him take up such an appointment. We all know what he believes in, what he stands for. He can speak for himself, but I suppose this appointment today, this focus from the government on emissions reductions as a singular issue, completely ignoring the idea of cost of living and the PM himself said today ‘I’ve got one focus and it’s my 2030 target’, just demonstrates again how tone deaf they are when it comes to the issue that actually affects Australians. So the appointment is what the appointment will be. We’re going to focus on cost of living and it’s a shame the Prime Minister won’t do the same.
Kieran Gilbert:
Do you think, though, that Matt, before we move on from the Matt Kean appointment, that at least he is consistent with what he has argued for within the Liberal Party, inside your ranks for a long time now?
Senator Duniam:
Yes, sure. And look, he’s never been inconsistent. I’ve fundamentally disagreed with him nearly every step of the way on much of what he’s had to say, he has come at things from a very different point of view to me and many others in the Coalition, and that’s again something for him to justify and explain to people. I did hear him talk about nuclear, for example, today, relying on a half decade old, one singular study, talking about the costs of it. I think there’s much updating he’s going to have to do if he wants to enter the debate on whether or not nuclear is an option for the Australian community. But look, he will do the job he’s been asked to do, and we’ll do ours, which is to focus on policies that actually make life better for Australians in this country.
Kieran Gilbert:
Does it make it more challenging for the Coalition and prosecuting your case on nuclear energy?
Senator Duniam:
No, not at all. I don’t think so at all. We have now for the last two years had a government that has blindly pursued an agenda to roll out renewables. They’re behind track on that. We don’t know the full cost of that. They demand us reveal all the detail of all of our policies today, but they won’t do that for their own policies and programs they’ve currently got under way. It changes nothing. We focus on putting the consumer at the centre of our policies – the Australian household and business that are paying the higher energy prices. We’re not going to be distracted by their argument, which doesn’t help Australians at all. It is not making a difference in the lives of Australian households and making it easier to do business here.
Kieran Gilbert:
How does the nuclear plan, though, grapple with the cost of living crisis because these are facilities, best case scenario that won’t be here for another decade.
Senator Duniam:
Sure. I mean, in the meantime, we have to have an all of the above approach as Ted O’Brien has said many times over. The opposition to new coal and gas to bringing online firming capacity or retaining firming capacity in our grid as it stands today by this government is what has driven up power price. The all eggs in one basket approach taken by this government isn’t providing stability in the grid. It isn’t meeting the demand we have now or into the future. That’s what’s driving up prices and there is no solution to that in what the government is offering. So we will work with suppliers and producers to bring on more firming capacity, including and especially in gas, because that is critical that takes us to the point in time where we are talking about bringing nuclear online. This zero emissions…
Kieran Gilbert:
So you, you want to see new coal as well?
Senator Duniam:
Well, particularly gas. I mean the market is making a pretty clear indication that new investment in coal is not something they’re doing, but gas, champing at the bit to explore and produce more, to bring more into the market. There of course is longevity in some of the plants that we need. Essentially, we need to maintain viability of the grid, we need to ensure that there is stability, that we can meet, demand that there is firming capacity, but the government are not interested in that. They’re interested in renewables only and that is coming at a cost to Australian consumers, households and businesses, which is a net negative for Australia.
Kieran Gilbert:
On the environmental protection legislation that Tanya Plibersek is hoping to get through Parliament, your concern there might be a deal done with the Greens over what’s known as a climate trigger. But correct me if I’m wrong, hasn’t the minister made it pretty clear she’s opposed to such a climate trigger?
Senator Duniam:
Quite the opposite, Kieran, I think it was only yesterday that Tanya Plibersek was being interviewed by Andrew Clennell and made it clear that she was open….
Kieran Gilbert:
So it’s on the table…
Senator Duniam:
Definitely on the table. They put a water trigger into the Nature Repair Market legislation, but are looking at putting a climate trigger into legislation to set up a new environmental bureaucracy, the Environment Protection Authority. This is a real concern, because this would stop new developments we need to get critical minerals out of the ground, new renewables projects and the impact that would have on the environment. There’s a range of projects that would be halted under a climate trigger. The government’s open to it. I’m sure they’ll do a deal because they want to get a win this side of an election in the environment space because they’ve had very few so far.
Kieran Gilbert:
So, she shifted her position in favour now, because previously, wasn’t she pretty clear that that wasn’t part of their plan?
Senator Duniam:
I’m not 100% clear what their plan has been other than they want to get the legislation through Is important to note though….
Kieran Gilbert:
So, you think a climate trigger will be pursued by the government?
Senator Duniam:
I think it’s on the cards for them. I mean the Prime Minister when he was Shadow Environment Minister, introduced legislation for a climate trigger himself in 2005. So, it’s not something that they are completely opposed to given he himself said it was a good idea just 19 years ago. So, I reckon they’re looking at it seriously. They want to get the bill through and if they don’t make changes that are acceptable, they will be doing deals with the Greens and the crossbench.
Kieran Gilbert:
Jonno Duniam, appreciate it as always, thanks.