What we learned today, Sunday 10 March
And with that, I am going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
Tasmanian Liberals promise world’s largest chocolate fountain if returned to government
Event organisers across south-eastern Australia are continuing to sweat over over safety concerns and cancellations as an autumn heatwave settles in for the long weekend.
The minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, described the Coalition’s claim that the government’s fuel efficiency standards will drive up the price of a Toyota HiLux as a “ridiculous scare campaign”.
“A Sao in a blender” was how the climate change and energy minister described the opposition’s advocacy for nuclear power.
A search continues for missing boy in western Sydney who has Down syndrome and autism.
Australia would win its dispute with China over tariffs on wine exports worth $1bn if the matter returned to the World Trade Organization, the trade minister says.
Updated
Labor and Greens politicians respond to opposition nuclear energy push
Coalition energy spokesperson Ted O’Brien claimed earlier today that government MPs would be “be negative and they’ll be on a talking point script from their party” in response to the opposition’s controversial push for more nuclear energy.
We’ve already brought you the energy minister, Chris Bowen’s response – “tell him he’s dreaming” – but let’s have a look at which other Labor MPs have taken time out of their Sundays to fire off responses to O’Brien.
Josh Wilson, the member for Fremantle and a keen environmentalist, pointed out there had been numerous inquiries into nuclear energy in recent years, all commissioned by Liberal governments, and which “all concluded nuclear not viable.”
Brief history of having a close look at nuclear ☢️ in Australia:
— Josh Wilson (@Josh4Freo) March 10, 2024
* 2006 Zwitkowski inquiry (for Howard)
* 2015 SA Royal Commission (Weatherill)
* 2019 Cwlth Energy & Environment committee (for Morrison)
* 2020 NSW inquiry (for Berejiklian)
All concluded nuclear ☢️ not viable. https://t.co/PhSXTFMYWZ
Jerome Laxale, member for Bennelong, tweeted: “Costly nuclear power that’s decades away OR cheaper, cleaner renewable energy available to build now”.
Costly nuclear power that’s decades away OR cheaper, cleaner renewable energy available to build now
— Jerome Laxale MP (@jeromelaxale) March 10, 2024
More efficient cars that’ll cost less to run OR forcing Aussies to spend more on fuel.
Some say the major parties are the same.
They aren’t. #auspol #insiders
Chris Bowen, of course, was pleased with his comments on Insiders and clipped up a few juicy quotes for his online audience:
Peter Dutton has a cool story about nuclear power in Ontario. But it isn’t true… pic.twitter.com/7jPAbMGNDg
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) March 10, 2024
And while she’s obviously not a member of the government, Greens senator for South Australia Barbara Pocock also took a swing at nuclear energy on Sunday, tweeting it was “too slow, too expensive and no waste solution”.
No nukes for Port Augusta. Too slow, too expensive and no waste solution. Our future is renewable. SA has a long nuclear history: tragic for First Nations mob & country from British testing. Laws against nukes in our state. A Citizens’ Jury NO to the 🌎’s high level nuke waste. pic.twitter.com/rYpPODt60y
— Barbara Pocock (@BarbaraPocock) March 10, 2024
Updated
