RHIANNON ELSTON [HOST]: Welcome back. The energy debate is running strong and joining me live is Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm. Good morning to you, Anthony. First of all, what's your reaction to Matt Kean being appointed Chair of the Climate Change Authority?
ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Well, I think it's a good sign that the government are on the right track with our energy policy and how seriously we're taking the issue of climate change. We know the record of our predecessors for ten years, which was denial and delay, whereas we've made great progress in the two years we've been in government. I think this signals that the majority of Australians agree with the direction that we're taking, that a former NSW Treasurer would come on board and work with the government on these important issues.
ELSTON: Nationals leader, David Littleproud has described the appointment as a political stunt. Is he right?
CHISHOLM: Well, no, it just shows you how marginalised the National Party and the Liberal Party are, and that the National Party are actually running the political agenda of the Opposition. They are far removed from where mainstream Australians are. We saw their record in government of the National Party, which was to, ah, delay and obfuscate renewable energy. They spent $3 million on a study into a new coal fired power station in Central Queensland, yet we never saw the actual study at the end of it. So, they have a terrible track record. They've continued that as the Opposition and the Liberal Party have fallen hook, line and sinker for it, and it's a bad outcome for regional Australia and it's a bad outcome for Australia. Full stop.
ELSTON: Well, on nuclear, a NewsCorp poll yesterday found six in ten Australians say they support nuclear energy? Is that a sign that Peter Dutton might be on the right track?
CHISHOLM: No, and I think that the challenge for the Opposition will be to actually detail how much this will cost. I'm not someone who's philosophically opposed to nuclear energy, but what I am opposed to is economic vandalism, and that's what this policy represents. It's the most costly form of energy, but also it puts it off to the never never, people in regional Queensland can't wait the 15 years it would take for this Opposition to get their act together and implement it. We need these projects coming online now. There's a lot of heavy manufacturing in Central Queensland and they need these renewable projects to start coming online now for them to remain competitive. That's what those big companies are going out and doing, putting out requests for these big renewable programs to come online. We're making great progress on this across Australia and all this would do would is delay and put these projects in jeopardy for something that I don't think will ever actually happen.
ELSTON: Have you managed to speak to people in communities that have been earmarked for nuclear by Peter Dutton?
CHISHOLM: I have. I travel through those parts of Queensland regularly and I know they want to see those manufacturing jobs and minerals jobs and resources jobs that have been a critical part of Central Queensland for decades now. But what we've shown under this government is that they will continue to thrive. New industries will be developed with the backing of renewable energy. That's the exciting thing that we've been able to implement. When you add on what we're doing with the Future Made in Australia, I was up there after the Budget with the Treasurer talking to a proponent who's looking at a hydrogen project in Gladstone that will be based on renewable energy. So, these exciting developments are happening now. All the Opposition are doing is putting these at risk by detailing something that is uneconomic, that is risky, it is dangerous, and the delay is only going to mean that it causes more harm to these people in Central Queensland.
ELSTON: There does seem to be some interest in nuclear in these communities, though, doesn't there? Take the example of Callide. The Banana Shire Mayor is saying that he's planning to get a nuclear expert to come in, talk to the community. Isn't that an indication that some people do seem interested in this idea?
CHISHOLM: Yeah, I understand that and I know the Mayor of Banana really well and they've also got a proud history when it comes to power generation. But I also see the opportunities that are being generated in those regions from renewable projects at the moment, and the point I'm making is that they can't wait the 15 years it would take for the Opposition to actually get their act together on this. These renewable projects are happening now. They're the ones that are going to make a difference and ensure that those manufacturing jobs and heavy industry jobs can continue in that region. That's what we're proving now. We can't afford the 15 years it would take the Opposition to pursue an uneconomic nuclear fantasy.
ELSTON: Well, it's a big topic. No doubt. We'll talk about it again soon. Anthony Chisholm, thanks for your time.
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