Opposition to Nuclear Backed by Climate Change Authority’s Latest Findings

Media Release: Independent Candidate Kate Hook’s Opposition to Nuclear Backed by Climate Change Authority’s Latest Findings

Kate Hook’s call to reject the Coalition’s nuclear power proposal is further backed by the Climate Change Authority’s latest assessment, which confirms that a nuclear pathway would significantly delay emissions reductions, drive up costs, and stall Australia’s clean energy transition.

“The Climate Change Authority has made it clear – Australia can reach a secure, reliable, and affordable energy future without nuclear,” Ms. Hook said. “Their latest assessment reinforces what energy experts have been saying for years: nuclear power is too slow, too expensive, and completely unnecessary for Australia’s needs.”

The Authority’s findings echo concerns raised by market operators and economists, highlighting that a nuclear energy rollout would take decades and come at an enormous cost to taxpayers – while proven renewable solutions are ready now.

“This latest analysis underscores exactly why the Coalition’s nuclear plan is a reckless distraction,” Ms. Hook said. “We have the solutions we need today – renewables, battery storage, and modern grid technology – we don’t need to gamble billions of taxpayer dollars on a technology that won’t deliver for decades and that damages our economy, electricity prices, and climate action.”

With Lithgow and the Central West in need of real investment in job-creating industries now, Ms. Hook reaffirmed her commitment to backing practical, community-led solutions that ensure a secure future for regional workers.

“The people of Calare deserve better than costly delays and dead-end policies,” she said. “Instead of wasting billions on nuclear, we should be investing in the industries that will deliver lower power bills, reliable energy, and good local jobs. Projects like bringing the Lithgow Locomotive Workshop and broader rail precinct back into use, will create hundreds of jobs and open up many other new industries, like battery electric trains that have already been designed and made in Lithgow.”

“I’ve been pointing out that slowing the transition to renewable energy and pursuing nuclear would be a wrecking ball to the economy. The Climate Change Authority’s report makes it clear it would also be a carbon emissions bomb. It shows nuclear would blow out Australia’s emissions by over 2 billion tonnes, making it impossible to meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. For households and businesses, it would mean we don’t get cheap, clean energy until 2042.”

“Every year we waste waiting for nuclear means higher power bills and higher emissions.”

“We are already at 40% renewable energy now, and in the last six years alone, the amount of renewable energy added to Australia’s grid (46Twh) is equal to 6 nuclear reactors. In other words, we’ve already achieved in 6 years what Peter Dutton wants to do in 17 years or more. And we’ve done that without creating the massive taxpayer debt that the nuclear plan requires.”

“Families and businesses are already struggling with costs, and we shouldn’t be asking them to bankroll this gamble on nuclear that won’t deliver for decades. We need practical, cost-effective energy investments that can deliver reliable, cheaper, cleaner power right now – not decades from now.”

 

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