Face of Nation : Nationals senator Sam McMahon has lashed renewable energy as a “fraud” and a “hoax” as she made the case for oil, gas and nuclear energy. She became the second government senator in as many days to use their first speech to parliament to talk up nuclear power after South Australian Liberal Alex Antic did the same on Tuesday.
“A hoax of immature technology replacing safe, clean, reliable and inexpensive power stations has unfolded. “The quiet Australians are no longer content subsidising fanciful ideas that have been uncovered as fraud.” Senator McMahon said onshore and offshore gas and oil exploration could lead to jobs across the territory. She also said 30 per cent of the world’s uranium reserves were located in the NT. “The time is right for us to visit and re-examine options for us to utilise this technology.”
The Katherine-based vet said energy and water were two industries which could help provide employment in remote indigenous communities, with 60 per cent of Territorians on some form of welfare.
“Modern welfare systems have enabled people to stay in these communities when there is no work, and facilitated rapid expansion of the population,” Senator McMahon said. “We are now grappling with the conundrum of expecting government to create employment in very remote areas often where none exists.”
With dam building being brought sharply into focus by federal Nationals, Senator McMahon joined the chorus of support for new water infrastructure. “I call upon my colleagues in this government to join me in examining a variety of means of collection of massive quantities of water delivered by our monsoonal rains across the north,” she said.
