“The pending nuclear debate for the next election is welcome and, unfortunately, about 20 years later than it should have been held,” said Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, the Australian Industry Group.
“Decisions on the development of nuclear power for the Australian economy turn on economics, questions of energy affordability and reliability, emission reductions and emotion.
“There will be competing models and scenarios put forward for nuclear power to be or not to be an active part of our energy mix post 2035. There are several key issues to be kept in mind as we head into the upcoming election.
“For the Australian economy to prosper, there must be guaranteed energy reliability with that energy coming at an affordable and predictable price. Energy security is the bedrock of our economic success.
“Nuclear power may be a possibility for 2035 onwards, but the debate does not solve the self-inflicted energy problems we face in 2025. Energy shortfalls, concerns over blackouts in years to come, an inability to build the energy infrastructure we need and price volatility are problems we face now and need to be addressed now.
“The potential of nuclear power as a component of our energy mix has stirred emotions in the community for more than 50 years. In that time, we have seen a broad consensus built around reducing emissions and working towards a 2050 net zero economy.
“The Opposition deserves credit for raising the potential of nuclear power as both an emissions reduction strategy and to provide certainty for the energy grid. If they are elected, turning the idea into reality would take an enormous amount of consultation and planning.
“The Government has an alternative view on providing energy certainty and an alternate pathway to net zero that excludes nuclear energy.
“It is right and proper that the issue be debated and decided in the public square.
“A key question for the Coalition is how its proposals do not crowd out private sector investment in energy infrastructure between now and 2035 and a key question for the government is how it is going to speed up Australia’s lagging energy infrastructure build now.
“The bottom line for Australian industry is that it has affordable and reliable energy for decades to come to allow for expansion and investment. Industry on the whole is frankly agnostic about the energy source – it just wants the guarantee of supply at an affordable price.
“Without that affordability and reliability, the jobs of the future are at stake. The nuclear debate will have major consequences for our economic pathway going forward,” Mr Willox said.
