TALENT ALERT: Experts available on how the Federal Budget can steer us away from fuel chaos.
Climate Media Centre
EMBARGOED until 12:05am AEST Thursday 9 April
New analysis from The Climate Council, released today, ‘Pedal to the Metal: A Budget to Break Free from Fuel Chaos’ outlines four key measures the Albanese Government can implement to shore up long-term energy security, lower costs and cut climate pollution.
The principles focus on electrification, solar and batteries, and cleaner transport to cut bills now and protect Australians against future oil and gas supply shortages and price spikes.
The below experts in cleaner transport, electrification and energy are available for interview. The Climate Media Centre can also connect you with case studies of EV owners and business owners who’ve shielded themselves from price shocks through electrification.
To arrange interviews, please contact: Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]
Experts available to speak on electrification:
Dr Roger Dargaville, Assistant Professor, Renewable Energy, Civil & Environmental Engineering at Monash University, Victoria. Dr Dargaville can speak to electrification across the sectors including household and transport.
Dr Dargaville said:
“One of the clear benefits (among many others) of electrification of households, business, industry and transport is that using electricity instead of fossil fuel makes the user much more resilient to external price shocks. We know that coal, gas and especially oil are prone to price hikes during times of conflict or restricted supply. Electricity, especially that generated from renewables, is far less prone to such price fluctuations.
“Renewable electricity from wind turbines and solar PV uses zero cost fuel, so a majority of the costs are upfront and determined during construction and don’t change once the plant is operational. Combined with batteries or pumped hydro energy storage (also low to no operating costs), these technologies provide clean and reliable energy for decades with a pre-determined cost.”
Trevor Brown, Convenor of Electrify Armidale
Trevor can speak to home electrification, the Cheaper Home Batteries program and ensuring that household electrification is equitable and accessible to lower income and vulnerable Australians.
Experts available to speak on renewable energy and gas:
Satya Tanner, Tanner Consultancy Services and Adjunct Fellow, University of the Sunshine Coast.
Satya can speak to 'nested self-sufficiency' and what that means for resilience, energy security, economic security, national security, and all the downstream uses of energy that we’re feeling the heat on right now.
Kevin Morrison, Energy Finance Analyst, Australian Gas at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
Kevin can speak to how imported oil and exported gas means international conflicts quickly translate into price rises and insecurity at home. Kevin can also speak to shared and public transport and electrification.
Tim Buckley, Founder and Director at Climate Energy Finance.
Tim can speak to the need to reduce fuel dependence, power heavy industry with Australian renewables, cut household bills with electrified homes, solar and batteries and make gas corporations pay their fair share of tax.
Experts available to speak on cleaner transport:
Aman Gaur, Head of Legal and Advocacy at the Electric Vehicle Council
Aman can speak to the Electric Vehicle Council’s recent behavioural research data that reveals that working families in Australia's outer suburbs are benefitting the most from EV incentives and will be most deterred from buying EVs if the Federal and NSW government ditch EV incentives and introduce EV road user charges.
James Pickering, National President of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association
James can speak to electric and hybrid vehicles reducing Australia’s reliance on imported fuels and saving their owners money - shielded from fuel price shocks.
Dr Liam Davies, Associate Director at Institute for Sensible Transport
Dr Davies can speak on the need to cut fuel reliance with active transport, with public transport a critical element of this. Dr Davies can speak to current changes to public transport pricing, and the fact this may support more use, but increased service is really what is needed.
Shirley Saywell, Manager at Brady and Kibble Transport, Euroa, Victoria.
Shirley operates eight semitrailers and can speak to the need to ration fuel and encourage people to walk, bike, carpool and/or use public transport in the short term. Shirley can speak to electrification as an urgent policy initiative and her desire to replace her diesel freight trucks with electric models for greater security and lower pollution.
Contact details:
To arrange interviews, please contact: Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]