Kevin Rudd has warned that Australians will dismiss the clean energy transition as 'bullshit' if it does not deliver tangible benefits such as lower prices, reliable supply, and new jobs. The former prime minister made the comments at the Melbourne launch of a book by Thom Woodroofe, a former diplomat and Smart Energy Council international fellow.
Rudd Criticizes Trump's Green Energy Cuts
Rudd described Donald Trump's cuts to support for green industries as 'unfortunate', but noted that climate policies would have staying power if they delivered affordable prices, energy security, and job opportunities. 'Policy continuity will be supported if we continue not just good messaging about this, but actually deliver price outcomes, security of supply, electricity supply outcomes, new industries and new jobs, which people touch, see, feel, hear and have in their daily experience,' he said.
EVs as Protection from Fuel Price Volatility
Rudd highlighted the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) in the context of global fuel price shocks. 'If you've got an EV at the moment, or frankly, if you've got a hybrid, you are much less dependent on what comes out of the geopolitics of the Gulf at present,' he said. He added that Australians with EVs had been protected from the 'terror' of higher pump prices.
Australia's Comparative Advantage in Green Energy
Rudd said Australia has an 'enormous comparative advantage' in green iron, steel, and renewable energy due to its vast land area, abundant sunshine, and proximity to Southeast Asian export markets. He urged Australia to seize the opportunity presented by geopolitical tensions in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Turnbull Criticizes Liberal Party's One Nation Preference
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, speaking at the same event, said 'nobody is building new coal power stations in Australia' because renewables offer cheaper, reliable power. He described the Liberal Party's decision to preference One Nation in the Farrer byelection as 'a retrograde move', noting One Nation's climate change denial stance.
Lessons from the US Inflation Reduction Act
Rudd cited the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act as an example of 'threading the needle' between building green industries and delivering benefits to working families. He noted that despite Trump's rollbacks, many states have fought to retain investments from the Act. 'It hasn't been a complete flipback under President Trump, because the states have fought back,' he said.
Rudd concluded that Australian governments must ensure policies deliver for communities 'in their head, in their hearts and in their pocketbook'.
