Matt Kean’s first speech since appointment as Climate Change chair

Incoming climate change tsar Matt Kean has called on the clean energy industry to take up the fight to the ‘climate change denialists’.

Former NSW Liberal minister Matt Kean has lashed climate change denialists and pro-coal “propaganda”, calling on the industry to “put your mouth where your money is” in his first public speech as the next climate change tsar.

Speaking at the 2024 Australian Clean Energy Summit on Tuesday, the incoming Climate Change Authority chair warned Australia could lose out on having the lowest electricity prices in the world and risk the creation of thousands of jobs if it delayed its transition to renewable energy.

“While many here in this room and in this industry remain silent and hopeful, the opponents of the transition are loud and determined,” he told the audience in Sydney.

“It is time for many of you in this room to put your mouth where your money is. The facts, the benefits and the positive outcomes are roaring outside.

“It’s time for you to enter the debate and argue for Australia’s interests, argue for Australia.”

Former NSW treasurer and incoming Climate Change Authority chair urged the renewable energy to be more vocal against pro-coal voices. Picture: NewsWire/ John Appleyard

Alongside the call to arms, Mr Kean said ramping up renewable energy sources would need to outpace the exit of coal-fired power stations.

“Ten have closed since 2012 and AEMO estimates that 90 per cent of today’s capacity will be lost by 2035, and the rest by 2040,” he said.

“So we need to get on with the task of building more renewable generation, storage and firming and transmission infrastructure.”

While Mr Kean said Australia had the capital and private investment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, as established by the Paris Agreement, he took aim at the planning system which allowed project approvals to be held up by dissenting housing developers and councils.

Mr Kean, who will formally begin his role with the Climate Change Authority on August 5, called for a new set of guiding principles, which would enforce time limits during the planning system to force approvals within a certain amount of time.

“We try and muscle our way into the forefront of global competition … but we will quickly lose our position in the queue if the capital is sitting idle, waiting endlessly for decision by planning authorities,” he said.

Tuesday’s address was Mr Kean’s first speech since he was announced as the next Climate Change Authority chair. Picture: NewsWire/ Tim Hunter.

Australia, he said, should follow European countries that had adapted their energy systems following the “energy market shocks unleashed by Russia’s illegal war in the Ukraine” which resulted in sharp price hikes in crude oil, coal and gas across the region.

“It reinforced the need to replace unreliable coal-fired power stations and their dependence on foreign energy sources,” he said.

“And reflects the broader strategic interests involved in combating climate change. They acted in their national interests, so we need to consider how to adopt similar principles here in Australia.”

Notably, his address did not touch on nuclear energy, despite federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s election pitch to overrule states and build seven nuclear power plants by 2050.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the announcement of his controversial $65,000-a-year appointment, Mr Kean said he had dismissed pursuing nuclear energy as the former NSW energy minister, saying it would “bankrupt the state” and take too long.

Despite announcing his retirement as the state member for Hornsby in June, Mr Kean will remain as an MP for the next three weeks before he formally begins his role with the Climate Change Authority.

Originally published as Matt Kean’s first speech since appointment as Climate Change chair