The NSW government is keeping mum about when or whether parliament will be recalled to pass laws empowering the commonwealth's proposed cost-cutting energy measures - but premier Perrottet has backed a minister's view that nuclear energy could be part of the state's future energy mix.
The federal government recalled parliament for one day on Thursday to pass legislation to introduce a cap on gas prices at $12 a gigajoule, introduce a mandatory code of conduct for the gas market and roll out power bill support for welfare recipients.
NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns has been calling for the premier to do likewise to deliver energy price relief, a move that former federal Labor leader now One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham described as a stunt:
"I think before Christmas this is a Chris Minns stunt.
"I'd need to look thoroughly at this Albanese proposal which is said to have a lot of problems attached to it."
Labor began contacting members of the crossbench on Wednesday, seeking their support to recall the parliament on Friday.
Labor Leader Chris Minns has written to the premier, urging him to recall the parliament to address surging cost of living prices, writing:
"Passing legislation would enshrine greater rights and more certainty for renters who are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis."
Premier Dominic Perrottet declined to commit to a day to recall the parliament to pass the legislation, which would allow the government to direct companies to cap its coal prices, telling reporters on Thursday:
"I'll have something to say about that shortly."
The commonwealth plan will cost NSW hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue, the premier said earlier this week.
The push for NSW parliament to reconvene comes amid a $22 million renovation of the chambers, with the red and green leather benches ripped from the chambers. It's believed when recalled, both houses may sit consecutively in another, smaller room at parliament.
Premier Perrotet was more forthcoming on the possibility that nuclear energy will be part of the state's future energy mix, also telling reporters on Thursday:
"I'm not ruling anything in or out. When it comes to technology, I'm agnostic.
"When it comes to energy security, you can't rule anything out. You've got to be open minded right across the board. As a government what we're focused on is making sure we have downward pressure on prices in the short term, and energy security in the long term.""
His comments come after NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the reactors could be something the government considers as prototypes become available in 2030.
The premier stressed that his focus in the short term was getting the multi-billion dollar Narrabri gas pipeline project completed.
Mr Kean told 2GB radio on Thursday morning:
"Of course we'd be open to looking at options like nuclear if they were commercially available.
"Small modular nuclear reactors are exciting technology, which may become available in the future."
Earlier this year, Mr Kean criticised his federal Liberal counterparts for attempting to overturn two federal bans on creating nuclear energy, accusing the party of "chasing unicorns".
Mr Kean called the plan a "fantasy" at the time, saying the technology was too far off to be considered a viable option.
The remarks by the Liberal premier and treasurer come as their federal party colleagues move closer to forming their own nuclear power policy for the next election, after convening a two-day forum on the energy source last month.
NSW Labor's environment spokeswoman Penny Sharpe criticised the comments, saying the state government needed to clarify where it stood on nuclear, telling reporters:
"(Nuclear) should not be part of our future. It is too expensive and it will take too long."
NSW Labor is opposed to more nuclear reactors being established in the state, with the Lucas Heights reactor south of Sydney used solely for medical purposes.
One Nation leader Latham was however more effusive in support for nuclear being part of the future energy mix:
"You want to do something about electricity prices and energy security? Go back to the recent fact Australia once had the cheapest electricity in the world. The people who said we need to rebuild the network and go 100 per cent renewables and build these new transmission wires and create a whole new setup, which is very, very expensive and now consumers are paying for it. I don't trust them to be part of the solution because quite frankly they are the problem.
"The best thing to do for the electricity grid is stop the transition, stop the big change, stop the expenses of rebuilding it, and fortify our coal fired power stations, gas peaking plants, also have nuclear power which would be beneficial in keeping the lights on - and renewables as part of a viable energy mix. The more energy supply you've got, the lower the prices will be."
Comments