Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that a recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on limiting global temperature increase by 1 degrees by 2050:

  (i) stated that 'nuclear increases its share in most 1 degree pathways by 2050',

  (ii) indicated in some projections that nuclear energy generation could expand by as much as 200 exajoules by 2100 – the equivalent of double the United States of America's annual consumption,

  (iii) estimated nuclear energy generation would increase by 2 times by 2050 in 85 mitigation scenarios, and

  (iv) the median uptake of primary energy supply via nuclear energy across the 85 mitigation scenarios between 2020 and 2050 was 7 per cent, more than renewable energy (6 per cent) and biomass (5 per cent);

(b) further notes that investigation of nuclear energy generation in Australia has been the subject of a legislative ban imposed at the behest of The Greens for almost 20 years; and

(c) calls upon the Federal Government to take steps to allow the consideration of nuclear energy generation in Australia's energy mix.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is taking practical action to lower power prices for Australian households and businesses, including through implementing the recommendations of the Finkel review and the ACCC retail electricity pricing inquiry. We will not be distracted from our goal of lowering prices while keeping the lights on. The government currently has no plans to review the ban on nuclear generation. We have a track record of meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets, and we will meet our 2030 target.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion be agreed to.