Pasin’s net zero on energy policy

THANKS for running Tony Pasin’s speech in full (‘Moral vanity, creating economic catastrophe’, pg 16, 5/11/25).

It really did show the vacuousness of those who oppose the transition to clean energy, not because they have a better policy, but simply because they must oppose anything the Labor Party proposes.

While Tony rails any policy approaching net zero is akin to “economic sabotage”, the reality is that this transition isn’t a mere environmental necessity; it’s the engine for unprecedented prosperity, resilience, and competitive advantage. Here’s why:

1. Unlocking trillions in investment and innovation: Global capital – restless and seeking future-proof returns – is flooding into renewables, energy storage, and green infrastructure. The International Energy Agency estimates $4 trillion (annually) is needed, worldwide by 2030, to meet net zero goals. This isn’t a cost, it’s a colossal investment surge. It catalyses breakthroughs – cheaper solar panels, efficient hydrogen production, and smart grids – driving down prices faster than predicted. Nations leading this charge become exporters of technology and expertise, commanding premium markets. Hesitation cedes this trillion-dollar opportunity to competitors.
2. Job creation beyond fossil fuels: The narrative of “job losses” ignores the tectonic shift in employment. Renewable energy sectors already employ millions globally, and in Australia, there are now around 30,000 people employed in designing, building and maintaining renewable energy and 49,000 in coal mining (not all of which is used for electricity generation). Solar and wind technicians are among the fastest-growing occupations. These gains can be amplified by retraining fossil fuel workers for the jobs of the future.
3. Slashing energy costs and boosting security: Reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets is economically perilous. Witness the price shocks from geopolitical conflict. Renewables offer near-zero marginal costs after installation. Solar and wind now outcompete coal and gas on price in most markets. Decentralised grids enhance resilience against blackouts and supply disruptions. Nations harnessing domestic sun, wind, and geothermal energy insulate their economies from external price shocks, freeing capital for productive domestic investment.
4. Avoiding catastrophic climate costs: The economic rationale is starkly defensive. The World Bank warns unmitigated climate change could displace 216 million people by 2050, devastate agriculture, cripple infrastructure with extreme weather, and drain trillions from global GDP annually – dwarfing transition costs. Investing in adaptation and mitigation is fiscally prudent risk management. Protecting coastal cities, stabilising food systems, and preventing mass migration are existential economic imperatives. Insurers are following the science and increasing premiums in response to increased risk events.
5. Enhancing global competitiveness: Carbon borders are emerging. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) taxes imports based on embedded carbon. Australian exports will be captured under this policy from 2026. Companies with high emissions face stranded assets, investor divestment, and consumer backlash. Conversely, businesses adopting circular economy principles, sourcing renewables, and innovating low-carbon products gain market share, attract capital, and future-proof operations. National economies built on clean industry become magnets for sustainable investment and top talent.
   While Tony points the finger at China for burning Australian coal, he seems oblivious that China is installing renewables faster than any other country and in the last 10 years has seen coal’s share of total generation decline by 20 per cent, and renewable’s share increase by a staggering 48 per cent.
   Tony’s electorate encompasses vast areas of South Australia’s rural production, and farmers are both feeling the ill effects of climate change and accepting the need for renewable energy.
   According to Farmers For Climate Action polling of nearly 2000 people across Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, 62 per cent of respondents said they supported solar and wind development, while only 17 per cent opposed it.
   Regional people are more united on renewable energy than almost any other researched issue in the past 20 years. Perhaps Tony should spend more time listening to farmers and his electorate and less time with Sky and Facebook.
   Right now, the Liberal Party is being wagged by the National Party tail and is unable to articulate a clear, coherent, and well-researched alternative. They took a poorly thought-out, uncosted nuclear policy to the last election and lost. Badly. Today, they have announced another policy, written by the Page Research Centre, claiming a fully coal-fired grid would reduce electricity prices by 25 per cent. Maybe it would, but to do so relies on the building of new coal-fired power stations using technology never before seen in Australia, at an estimated cost of $109 billion.
   From tilting at windmills, to waiting 30 years for nuclear power that would have only met 10 per cent of today’s needs, and now to unproven coal technology, the Liberal Party is like a dog with too many bones, running from one to another, never spending enough time with one to appreciate its worth.
   The world has spoken, the future is arriving at breakneck speed, and it is being powered by wind and sun, not by outdated reliance on fossil fuels.
   And even if we’re wrong, even if humans have no effect on the climate, and all we achieved was cleaner water, fresher air, and a booming economy, would that be so bad?
   DAVID BRINDLEY
   Waikerie