‘Absolute joke’: Energy Minister’s brutal response to nuclear calls

The man responsible for Australia’s overstretched energy system has torn shreds off one suggestion to solve the national crisis.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the idea of exploring nuclear energy is an “absolute joke”, as Australia’s energy crisis prompts gas prices to soar.

Mr Bowen says there are “no easy fixes” for the problem – caused by a complex range of international and domestic issues – and says nothing is off the table.

The limit to that, however, seems to be the Coalition’s suggestion it is time Australia investigates nuclear power.

The war in Ukraine has led to a global gas shortage, prompting Australia to rely on its ageing coal-fired power stations – at least 25 per cent of which are offline due to scheduled or unscheduled outages.

Labor says the crisis has been exacerbated by the former government’s reluctance to roll out a faster transition to renewables.

Now, Nationals Leader David Littleproud has been vocal in leading for a push towards nuclear, saying it should at least be a conversation.

Mr Bowen says there’s no credibility in the idea.

“Nine years in office and then coming up with bright ideas on the other side of election,” Mr Bowen said.

“Nuclear is the most expensive form of energy. We have a cost of living crisis. Energy prices are going through the roof – and that’s the big, bright idea? Let’s have the most expensive form of energy we can possibly think of?

“Let’s come up with the most expensive form of energy and put that in there because that will somehow make the power prices cheaper? They want that debate?

“Bring it on. It’s a complete joke.”

Chris Bowen chaired a roundtable with energy ministers on Wednesday. Picture: AAP / Steven Saphore

A roundtable of the nation’s energy minsters on Wednesday agreed to an 11-point plan to address the crisis, including giving power to the Australian Energy Market Operator to properly procure and store gas as a supply.

Ministers also agreed to work on the capacity mechanism, which essentially would require energy retailers to pay power generators to access additional capacity.

Resources Minister Madeleine King said cabinet had also resolved on Thursday to make sure the domestic security gas mechanism, due to expire on January 1 next year, is renewed as soon as possible.

“We’re determined to make sure that … all the tools available to us are all on the table, so that we can ensure that gas supplies are appropriate, adequate and affordable for Australians right across the country,” Ms King said.

Earlier, Mr Bowen rubbished suggestions the plan would hinder the nation’s transition to renewables.

“In fact, the transition is even more important now,” Mr Bowen said.

“A lot of people call this a gas crisis … but this is more of a coal crisis.

“This has been driven more by coal-fired power stations which are getting very old and we have been having outages and floods in coalmines and that’s what has driven this crisis.”

Mr Bowen said coal was to blame for the current crisis. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Earlier, Mr Bowen defended the gas companies amid calls for them to do more to alleviate the price hikes.

Mr Bowen has also defended the nation’s gas producers, insisting they had responded as required.

“They need to be cognisant of their domestic responsibilities, and they have responded when the government has required them to do so,” Mr Bowen told the ABC.

But ultimately, he stressed, producers had a “social licence” to do the right thing by consumers.

“There’s a social licence against companies, and gas companies need to do the right thing by Australian domestic consumers, both industrial and domestic,” he said.

It comes as former resources minister turned chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Ian Macfarlene, hit back at claims he owed east coast Australians an apology for blocking proposals for a domestic gas reserve.

Instead, he suggested consumers, as well as the Victorian government, were to blame for the current energy crisis.

“Australia operates in an international market. There is ample gas available. The reality is the current issues are due to a complex range of situations,” he said.

“Not the least of which is that Victoria stopped onshore exploration over a decade ago … Victoria and NSW have not developed their gas industry.

“Forty per cent of gas produced in Queensland goes into the domestic market. If NSW (and Victoria) had done the same thing, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”