Unions Get It: Nuclear Is Needed
The Australian Workers Union, AWU, wants a nuclear power industry in Australia.
Its National Secretary, Daniel Walton, has publicly called for Australia to become part of “…the international supply chain for this nascent, zero-emission energy technology.”
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, is fully supportive of the AWU’s position.
She has told the Victorian Parliament that this reliable, accessible energy source should be part of an energy mix if the desire to reduce carbon emissions is genuine.
“It’s not just the AWU or myself calling for nuclear common sense to be achieved, even the CFMMEU understands that Australia’s future needs to include nuclear energy,” Mrs McArthur said.
She reminded MPs of evidence given by the Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the CFMMEU, Geoff Dyke, to the parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into nuclear prohibition.
He said, “The ban on nuclear in Australia makes no logical sense. We regard it as emotive, and it is out of step with other developed countries.”
Mrs McArthur said nuclear fearmongering has to stop.
“The effectiveness of the Labor Party and Greens fearmongering about nuclear power is quickly dissipating. The Lowy Institute indicates support for nuclear power has increased over the past 10 years from 35 to 47 per cent.
“Any day now, that will surpass 50 per cent and the populists on the other side will be in strategic strife,” Mrs McArthur said.
Despite Labor’s political bedfellows now openly pushing nuclear, the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio has been silent.
“Other than her lauding of former Premier John Cain for declaring to keep the state nuclear free, she has barely said boo on the subject.
“The Minister ought to explain to the union movement why her ideological fixation on Victoria becoming emissions free must entail higher power prices, more brownouts and fewer jobs.
“She could simply embrace a conversation about nuclear and its dispatchable baseload power which complements inconsistent renewables which are currently contributing to mayhem in the energy space in the UK and Europe.”
Mrs McArthur has asked the Minister to publicly endorse her union friends in the AWU and CFMMEU.
“We must become energy and technology agnostic incorporating nuclear, hydrogen, waste to energy, wave energy, carbon capture and storage, onshore gas and even HELE coal, alongside renewables.
“If reduced carbon emissions is the gold standard, the Government should start listening to their union friends.”
14 October 2021
