November 20, 2024
The nuclear energy standoff has continued to divide politics after the Albanese government declined invitations to join a nuclear agreement at the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan.
The decision has deepened tensions between the Albanese government and the opposition as Labor has continued to reject the Coalition’s bid to establish nuclear energy in Australia.
In an interview with Sky News, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson argued the rejection of nuclear has isolated Australia from allies such as the UK and US.
“There’s no question that Australia is completely out of step with the rest of the developed world when it comes to emissions-free, safe nuclear technology,” Mr Paterson said.
“Chris Bowen has embarrassed Australia again on the international stage and left our allies embarrassed because they clearly had formed an expectation that Australia would sign this.”
Energy Minister Chris Bowen refused to sign the Generation IV International Forum nuclear agreement at COP 29 which was designed to accelerate development of nuclear technology.
Many of Australia's international allies, including the UK, US, France, Canada and Japan joined the agreement to boost efforts to decarbonise energy systems through nuclear.
Mr Bowen did not sign Australia up to the civil nuclear deal after the UK added Australia to a list of countries “expected” to join the agreement.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton seized on the moment to brand the Albanese government an “embarrassment” for not pursuing nuclear along with allies.
The Coalition has argued nuclear power, as a proven emissions-free technology, should be part of Australia’s energy mix, alongside renewables.
“This is a proven emissions-free technology that can get emissions down but also provide reliable, affordable baseload energy,” Mr Paterson said.
“And this government's opposition to it is purely political and ideological.”
In response to the growing backlash, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles defended the government’s position on Wednesday in an interview with Sky News.
“We are not going to be a part of an agreement where we don’t have a civil nuclear industry,” he said.
“It’s about the cooperation of their (UK, US) nuclear industries, and obviously, we are not going to be a part of that. It stands completely separate to AUKUS.”
Mr Marles further dismissed the suggestion that nuclear power was necessary for meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
Labor has pushed to achieve a 43 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, which the opposition has said the government has “no prospect of achieving”.
Some sections of the Coalition, particularly in the National Party, have suggested coal may need to play a larger role in the energy mix to support the renewable energy transition.
“I still think we should build coal-fired power stations. It is the cheapest way of lowering energy prices for Australians,” Nationals Senator Matt Canavan told Sky News.
“But about five years ago I came to the realisation that that might not be able to happen and we need to look at another option—and nuclear is the other option.”
