Matter of Public Importance- Energy
Senator Grogan: The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has laid out the government's energy and emissions reduction plan, and has clearly articulated, very clearly articulated, that nuclear will not be a part of Australia's energy mix. Nuclear is the most expensive form of energy, so there is a good reason, right? It is the most expensive form of energy, which has been reaffirmed over and over again by various people. The CSIRO in its 2021-22 GenCost report calls nuclear energy 'commercially immature' and 'high cost'. The report also affirms that the cheapest form of energy is mixed renewables such as wind and solar.
I would be delighted to introduce Senator Babet to some scientists, maybe some economists and that might help inform him in his pathway of pushing for nuclear energy. Senator Babet's friends on the opposition benches were unsuccessful in prosecuting this nuclear argument in nine years under their own government. They can't get their own government to support it. Their own people won't back it, so I am not quite sure where that is going for those in the opposition.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The Deputy President: Senators, I remind you that other speakers have been heard in silence. I remind people to give the same courtesy to Senator Grogan.
Senator Grogan: We had nine years of a Liberal-National government during which we had 22 stop-start energy policies and three gigawatts of dispatchable energy exit the grid without being replaced. I hardly think those opposite are in a position to be providing a way forward on our energy issue. Then, of course, when we introduced our Energy Price Relief Package, you would not support a package to reduce the price on people's hip pocket and take down prices. We saw prices skyrocket and they started under the opposition government. In our attempts to bring it down, you all vote against it because you would rather invest in very, very expensive nuclear energy.
Senator Canavan interjecting—
Senator Grogan: I would love a medal, thank you, Senator Canavan. If you could make me one that would be great.
The Acting Deputy President ( Senator Polley ): Senator Grogan, I remind you and Senator Canavan that it is disorderly to interject, and your comments should go through the chair. Pay the same courtesy as was displayed to you, Senator Canavan.
Senator Grogan: My apologies. But I do fear that the facts on nuclear energy generation are somewhat lost on my colleagues across the room. I know a number of you have cast aspersions on the CSIRO in the past. So, rather than just keep quoting them, I will add a bit more detail from other sources that you may prefer, particularly the nuclear energy industry. Yes, that's right: the nuclear energy industry admits that cost is a prohibitive factor compared to renewable energy. The World nuclearindustry status report 2020—not the CSIRO, if you're paying attention, but the World nuclear industry status report, stated:
The costs of renewables continue to fall due to incremental manufacturing and installation improvements while nuclear, despite over half a century of industrial experience, continues to see costs rising.
That same report goes on to say that the levelised cost of energy analysis by the US bank Lazard shows that between 2009 and 2021 utility-scale solar costs came down by 90 per cent, wind costs came down by 72 per cent and new nuclear costs increased by 36 per cent. So, sure: I get it that maybe you don't like some scientists, you don't like some organisations, because you think they believe in climate change or various other things that you can't get behind. But this is the industry itself. This is the report on the industry itself, telling you exactly what the costs look like. So, you enjoy that at your peril and ignore it at the country's, I believe.
We have now seen a decade of denial and delay as far as our energy sector is concerned. And now the transition to renewable energy is going to have to boost. We know this. The level of investment has been low, but it is growing. Since we legislated the 43 per cent target, investment has increased, and it will continue to increase, for renewable energy— (Time expired)