Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Is the minister aware of reports that Ron Walker, Hugh Morgan and Robert Champion de Crespigny are key shareholders in Australian Nuclear Energy Pty Ltd, a private company considering building nuclear power stations in Victoria and South Australia? Has the minister, or have any of his cabinet colleagues, discussed these plans with the company or any of its representatives? Can the minister also indicate whether the government was already having discussions with this company about the location of nuclear power stations before the release of the Switkowski report? Is the minister aware that it was revealed at Senate estimates that the government has a 31 March deadline for its response to the Switkowski report? Isn’t the reason for the urgency in this response all about the Howard government giving the green light to companies like this to build nuclear power stations in Australia?

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am specifically asked whether I, or any other member of the government, discussed this proposal at some stage. I can say on my own behalf that the first I knew of the alleged proposal was the media reports on it this morning. I have not discussed this with any of the gentlemen concerned.

For the record, I regard Mr Walker, Mr Morgan and Mr de Crespigny as very fine Australians who have made an enormous contribution to this country and to wealth creation. And, indeed, Mr de Crespigny is so highly regarded that he sat as a member of the South Australian Labor Premier’s economic committee of cabinet and was his economic guru. Mr de Crespigny, of course, chaired the South Australian Economic Development Board for the Labor Premier, Mr Rann. So these are great Australians, and I hope that no-one will suggest that there should be any pillorying of their contribution to this economy.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is too much noise on both sides of the chamber. I ask you to come to order.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also draw the Senate’s attention to a media statement issued today by Australian Nuclear Energy Pty Ltd, the company in question, which says:

The Australian community will ultimately decide the best way to provide sustainable energy for our country. Australian Nuclear Energy Pty Ltd is a private company established to examine potential commercial responses to future energy needs. ANE company secretary Mr Bruce Fitzgerald says that, contrary to today’s media reports, the company has not put forward a proposal to build nuclear power plants in Australia. The company will make no further comment.

So the company is in effect denying the gist of the press reports today as to any plans it may have for nuclear power plants.

I will, for the sake of Senator Wong, find out if any other members of the government have discussed anything of this sort with the three principals of this company, but I am not aware of that. Mr Macfarlane, I saw reported in the media today, says he had not specifically discussed this proposal. But I am happy to come back to Senator Wong with any information I can give her with respect to any other members of the government.

I should say that we have been quite open in our position on this matter. We did commission the Switkowski committee to examine the place of nuclear power in Australia’s energy future. The Switkowski report was a very comprehensive examination of the question of whether or not nuclear power had a role to play in Australia’s energy future. The government is examining that report and will respond to it in due course.

The minister I represent, on whose behalf I have been asked this question, Mr Macfarlane, has issued a statement today making it clear that under current Australian law, at both a federal and state level, nuclear power is not permitted in this country. It is actually prohibited by law. However, we do believe that nuclear power has to be on the table as one of the energy options for Australia.

The real point about this issue is that it exposes the Labor Party as utter hypocrites on the question of greenhouse gas emissions. They are running around the country creating a scare campaign—

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We agree with you! It’s not economic!

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on greenhouse gas emissions but they have completely and absolutely ruled out, on any consideration—

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We agree with you! It’s not economic!

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Evans, shouting across the chamber is disorderly.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the only source of baseload power that has zero emissions. So they are utter hypocrites on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You’re the hypocrite—you don’t believe a word of it!

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They have no plan to control greenhouse gas emissions. They walk both sides of the street; they have some of their members saying we have to shut down the coal industry and others saying—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Evans, withdraw that remark.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is that the hypocrite remark?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought the minister accused us of being hypocrites.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, his was a general term; yours was a personal expression. And you know, as well as I do, the difference.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I was referring to the fact that Senator Minchin is on the record as not agreeing with the government’s policy. He agrees it is not economic. If I was out of order—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Evans, I have asked you to withdraw.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, if you do so, I withdraw.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Good.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask a supplementary question, Mr President. Given that the possibility of Australian Nuclear Energy Pty Ltd building a nuclear power station in the minister’s, and my, home state of South Australia has been raised, will the minister now indicate whether he would support this happening? Will the minister now, today, rule out supporting the establishment of a nuclear power facility in the state of South Australia?

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would remind Senator Wong that the company has already said in its statement today:

... the company has not put forward a proposal to build nuclear power plants in Australia.

I support government policy, which is that nuclear power must be on the table for Australia’s future energy needs, particularly if you are serious about seeking to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is the Labor Party that is completely hollow on the question of climate change. They are not serious about the possibility of nuclear power in this country. They have no credibility whatsoever.