“He hasn’t lived in a bubble:” CEC names former radio shock jock to spread word on clean energy

A former radio shock jock who has accused the Climate Council of “catastrophising” the impacts of climate change and who has criticised the rollout of renewables has been named as the new national spokesperson for the Clean Energy Council, a peak body for the industry.

Chris O’Keefe stepped down from his role as host of Sydney radio station 2GB’s “Drive” program late last year to set up a private consultancy to advise business and politicians, and has now emerged as the new national spokesperson for the CEC.

His appointment comes just months ahead of the next federal election, and will presumably require a rapid reverse of some of the strident positions he took on his radio program, where he had lambasted both the climate science, and questioned the transition to renewables.

“These predictions are ridiculous,” O’Keefe said in response to a Climate Council report forecasting the increased risk of heat waves and other impacts earlier last year, before starting off on a riff against the Climate Council’s founding boss, Professor Tim Flannery.

O’Keefe said such predictions were counterproductive and amounted to “catastrophising”, and would “ensure our energy grids will be unreliable”, before adding: “We all know it’s not going to happen.”

He also took to Labor’s renewable energy policies, and its bill relief program, which he described as “a bandaid on a wound inflicted by the government itself”.

O’Keefe lamented the closure of Liddell, the country’s oldest, dirtiest and most unreliable coal fired power generator, and the then anticipated closure of Eraring, the country’s biggest coal fired generator.

“They are supposed to be replaced by cheap renewables … quote, unquote,” O’Keefe said, before complaining about the “massive transmission towers” that would need to be built “all around the east coast” and the “structurally unsound” transition to renewables … that has been ballsed-up by everyone who comes near it.”

CEC chief executive Kane Thornton told Renew Economy that the appointment of O’Keefe is likely to “raise some eyebrows” but said it is important because it would open channels in the media where the industry had previously gained little traction.

Thornton says there is still support for renewables in the community, but it remains “fragile” and people have been “ambushed and confused” by the debate around climate and energy.

“We need to get out there and roll up our sleeves. He (Chris O’Keefe) hasn’t lived in a bubble, and he has heard all the arguments.” Thornton said the appointment is part of a broader education campaign that is planned by the CEC.

“Misinformation and disinformation is a challenge to the industry and Chris understands the media and the broader Australian public,” Thornton said. “We have to do something different and make sure our voice is heard in different channels.”

In a statement issued by the CEC on Tuesday, O’Keefe said moving to the new position is the “right thing to do” because “Australians wanted facts” about the renewable energy transition.

“I have spent my whole career taking complex information, cutting through the jargon and politics and telling people the truth,” O’Keefe said.

“Above all, I want common sense solutions for Australian families and businesses, including an energy system that is reliable, affordable and sustainable.

“I am a patriotic Australian and I believe the families who have spent generations working well-paid jobs in industries like mining and energy should be able to see their children working in the same sector, rather than moving to the cities for work. Clean energy gives these families that opportunity.”