Matt Kean to helm Climate Change Authority, says no to nuclear

The architect of New South Wales’ (NSW) renewable energy transition is set to be the next Climate Change Authority (CCA) chair, with Matt Kean stepping up to take on the job of advising on the options and pace of the national shift to decarbonisation. 

The former NSW Liberal MP and state energy minister – who only stepped down from politics late last week – will combine decarbonisation with economic policy in his new role, a job whose importance is taking on an outsized importance in advance of an election set to be fought on how to get to net zero. 

The CCA advises the government on climate change policy.

“The energy transition is a huge opportunity for our nation to create jobs, grow our economy and lower power prices,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“My government’s approach is focussed on reducing emissions while creating maximum benefits for Australian families and households. We are proud to appoint Mr Kean today for this important role and as part of the expert team that will deliver these benefits for our economy.”

Kean was the architect of NSW’s transition to renewables when as energy and environment minister he managed the passing of laws in 2020 to build 12 GW of clean energy and 2 GW of storage.

He then handled the NSW emissions reductions target of 70 per cent by 2035.

Today, Kean rejected nuclear as a solution the CCA will support, saying that his department looked into the energy source for NSW and advice was that it would take too long and be too expensive. 

He says the advice was from professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, who was responsible for the British government’s nuclear defence program and is one of the few people in Australia to have actually run a nuclear program.

Retiring chair Grant King restored the agency to “its proper role” supporting the government’s climate goals, says energy and climate change minister Chris Bowen.

“Good climate and energy policy is good economic policy – the Albanese government gets that and so does Matt Kean,” he said in a statement. 

“Our ambitious but achievable policies are ensuring our approach is credible and delivers benefits for all Australians. The Climate Change Authority is critical to this agenda.

“Matt Kean’s time in public office was marked by reform and the ability to bring people from across the political spectrum with him for the good of the community.”

King moves sideways to Transgrid

King will slide into the chair role at NSW transmission provider Transgrid this year, after his predecessor leaves after a six year stint in the job. 

King will work alongside CEO Brett Redman as the company continues to negotiate major transmission projects through both community opposition and stringent regulatory hurdles. 

“It’s a great privilege and opportunity to join one of Australia’s most critical energy infrastructure businesses at a time when Australia has a significant challenge ahead of it to deliver a timely transition to a clean energy future,” King said in a statement. 

Transgrid has a $16.5 billion plan to ease in a 100 per cent renewables grid over the next decade, and ease out coal. The majority of that spend, some $14 billion, is for transmission links to other states. 

The roadmap takes in expectations that NSW will see four of its five remaining coal generators close in the next 10 years and be replaced with 28 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity supported by some 2,500 kms of new transmission lines. 

Late last year the company handed out initial contracts to build the HumeLink transmission line, which will connect Snowy 2.0 to the grid. 

King was something of a renewables sceptic, both at Origin and in his subsequent role as president of the Business Council of Australia, but appeared to have a Damascene conversion in 2021 when he joined wind and solar developer CWP Renewables as chair. 

At the same time he took on the chairmanship of the Climate Change Authority, which he will be stepping down from this year. 

He did, however, also in 2021 speak of a “secret society” working to bring about nuclear power in Australia. That appears to have come true, with the federal Coalition rolling out a nuclear “policy” despite it being roundly debunked as a near- or medium- term solution to Australia’s energy needs.