Kevin Rudd Warns Green Transition Risks Being Seen as "Bullshit" Without Tangible Benefits
"If it does not provide tangible benefits such as affordable prices, reliable energy supply, and new jobs... Australians would view the clean transition as 'bullshit'."
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Donald Trump’s cuts to support for green industries as "unfortunate," warning that Australians will reject the clean energy transition unless it delivers concrete, everyday benefits.
Speaking at the Melbourne launch of Thom Woodroofe’s book "Power, Prosperity and Planet," Rudd—now leading the Asia Society thinktank—delivered a sharp assessment of global energy politics and Australia’s strategic opportunity.
Seizing the Geopolitical Moment
Rudd urged Australia to "seize the opportunity" presented by instability in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that shocks from hydrocarbon dependency underscore the need for energy independence.
"EV or hybrid owners are less dependent on Gulf geopolitics for fuel," he noted, drawing a direct link between clean energy adoption and national security.
Australia's "Enormous Comparative Advantage"
Rudd highlighted Australia’s natural advantages in the clean economy, pointing to "an enormous comparative advantage in green iron, steel, and renewable energy" due to abundant land, sunshine, and proximity to Southeast Asian markets.
Turnbull: "Nobody Is Building New Coal Power Stations in Australia"
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also spoke at the event, declaring that coal is no longer a viable option.
"Nobody is building new coal power stations in Australia," Turnbull said, because renewables can now provide cheaper, reliable power.
He also criticized the Liberal party's preference for One Nation in the Farrer byelection, calling it "a retrograde move" and noting One Nation’s involvement in climate change denial.
The U.S. Context: Trump’s "Pull Back" vs. State-Level Resistance
Rudd explained that the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act aimed to build green industries, deliver green energy, and create jobs. He noted that some of those measures have been "pulled back" under Trump, but that U.S. states have fought to preserve investments.
A Clear Message for Australian Governments
Rudd’s core message for Australian governments was simple: ensure policies deliver outcomes that people "see, feel, and experience" in their daily lives.
Notably, while Rudd—prior to his ambassadorship—had called Trump the "most destructive president in history," such commentary was absent from these remarks.