Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

Basic economics—thank you, Senator Scarr. We must allow the private sector to produce. We don't need more government intervention; we need less government intervention. The government, let's be honest, couldn't organise a beer in a brewery. That's what they couldn't do. It is very clear what is happening here. The government is determined not to use the coal and gas we have and the government is determined to stifle the opening of new coal and gas projects. In fact, there are 89 coal, oil and gas projects sitting in a construction pipeline—excuse the pun. These projects have either been publicly announced or they are in the feasibility stage and are worth around $274 billion to the national economy. They would also create nearly half a million jobs and provide decades of secure energy supplies.

But the government are determined not to use the coal we have or the gas. They are determined not to open up gas fields. And if that's their plan, if that's their vision, then the only way to lower energy prices in the long term is to add nuclear power to the mix. The United Australia Party does not accept the flippant responses of government ministers whenever the suggestion of nuclear power is raised that, 'Oh, it's too hard,' or 'It's too expensive,' or 'It's too difficult.' That is what we are told. Well, it is not too hard. There is a middle ground, a place where different ideas meet and the Australian people benefit. What is too hard, though, is watching the average Australian suffer under massive cost-of-living pressure and skyrocketing energy bills while a very real, tried, tested, safe and proven solution is staring at us right in the face.

Australian consumers, Australian businesses, Australian manufacturers deserve reliable, abundant and cheap energy. Without cheap energy, we will see a decrease in our standard of living. That is just a fact. It will happen. Irrespective of whether or not this bill passes today, and we all know it is likely to pass, the United Australia Party asks the government to initiate a genuine study on the costs and benefits of nuclear power. It should analyse emissions, the cost to users and the cost to government.

The Labor Party's 12-month price cap mechanism is a short-term cure that will be worse than the disease. We need a permanent solution to keep prices down. The UAP took a nuclear policy to the election because we're committed to the long-term future of our country. The time for an honest debate on nuclear power is now. We need to plan for stable power prices into our future without the need for repeated emergency relief measures.