Peter FitzSimons calls out William Shackel as he campaigns for nuclear energy in Australia
Peter FitzSimons has subpoenaed a young Aussie teenager for campaigning for nuclear energy.
11-year-old Brisbane boy William Shackel, 16, has attracted national publicity in recent months with his Nuclear for Australia campaign group.
Nuclear for Australia is an independent, unregistered education campaign advocating for the lifting of the nuclear ban in Australia.
William posted a video on social media on Sunday documenting a trip to Canberra where he hopes to present a petition to parliament.
FitzSimons praised the young activist’s passion but claimed it was “misguided” when he addressed the video in a Twitter post Monday.
Peter FitzSimon praised the young activist’s passion, but said it was “misguided.”
“Onya for your passion, young man, however misguided it is. I am being corrected, but isn’t nuclear energy the most expensive to produce?’ He wrote.
‘Why would you do that, when renewable energy sources are thriving and cheap? 10 years of building? EVERYONE, who would welcome a large or mini reactor in the neighborhood?’
William outlined his support for nuclear energy in an interview last Tuesday.
“Nuclear is a really unique solution because unlike fossil fuels, nuclear energy is safe and clean,” he said 6 News.
‘Unlike renewable energy sources, it is reliable and that is very important.
“So that’s why I support nuclear power, because I think this is the solution Australia really needs.”
More than 30 countries around the world make effective use of nuclear power, with nuclear reactors in the United States supplying 20 percent of its electricity needs.
Despite being emission-free, nuclear power in Australia has been banned under Commonwealth laws since 1998.
The Liberals are considering introducing it, but Labor remains against it, insisting that solar, wind and hydro are cheaper, faster, low-emission forms of energy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to nearly halve Australia’s emissions by 2030, hoping to cut them by 43 percent from 2005 levels.
National MP David Gillespie claimed Australia would have ‘no chance’ of reaching net zero if the country did not embrace nuclear power.
“Over-reliance on renewable energy sources has huge consequences, it makes energy very expensive,” he told Sky News on Monday.
Labor also wants to increase the share of renewables in Australia’s national electricity market to 82 per cent, compared to about a third today.
William Shackel, 16, posted a video to social media on Sunday capturing a trip to Canberra where he hopes to present a petition for the use of nuclear power to Parliament
But Mr. Albanese wants to achieve these goals by expanding solar, wind and hydropower without nuclear power.
Key National Party figures, such as former leader Barnaby Joyce and leader David Littleproud, have spoken out about the benefits of nuclear power.
Peter Dutton also advocated ‘small-scale nuclear energy’ in his recent response to the federal budget.
Earlier this year, 2GB presenter Ben Fordham called on Australia to embrace nuclear power by March.
He said Australia is “too timid or too stupid” to embrace it and now is the time to rethink nuclear power as the government acquires nuclear submarines.
The 2GB radio presenter said Australia was ‘stuck in the middle ages’ when it came to nuclear power, but harnessing the power source would be a ‘game-changer’.
“I wonder if the nuclear submarines will provide that catalyst,” he said.
Fordham made the comment after the groundbreaking AUKUS security deal was announced, which will see Australia command a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Canberra will procure three US Virginia-class nuclear submarines from 2033 as a stopgap before a next-generation hybrid submarine enters production in an effort to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.