Australian energy minister Chris Bowen clashed with a 7News journalist in a fiery exchange at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday in regards to Australia’s transition to renewables and the current fuel crisis.
Bowen fronted media to provide an update on the fuel crisis, however, the presser went off the rails when 7News Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett asked, “If this war in Iran has showed nothing else, hasn’t it proved, once and for all, that your obsession with renewables will only lead us down the track to another energy crisis?”
Bowen responded by saying, “That’s a pretty loaded—that’s a comment, not a question”.
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“No, it’s a question,” Bartlett replied.
“Well, it’s a very loaded, it’s a very loaded comment,” Bowen continued.
“What it shows is that we need to continue to work on energy security. I make this point, and I reject the premise of your question.”
“It’s an open question,” Bartlett insisted.
“No, no, I reject it,” Bowen shot back.
“It’s not a trick question,” Bartlett said.
“Sorry, are you asking a question or are you having a debate?” Bowen asked.
“I’d love an answer,” Bartlett said.
Undeterred, the energy minister gave him one, straight down the line.
“Yes, certainly. Energy must be secure. Renewable energy is a secure form of energy. The Australian sun cannot be interrupted by a war or anything else. The solar energy has to travel 150 million kilometres from the sun. It doesn’t have to travel the 150 kilometres of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
“While we’re building that secure renewable energy, obviously we continue to ensure that our most immediate task is energy security, including all the work the government has been doing, working closely with industry to ensure the most secure supply for Australians.
“That’s what we’ve been doing. That’s why I’ve been providing updates every day to the Australian people in press conferences, and that’s why I’m able to say not a single ship that has been expected to arrive in Australia has been interrupted.”
“You’re playing catch up,” Bartlett accused the minister.
“You’ve had a question. Could you have a little bit more respect for your colleagues?” Bowen said, moving onto the journalist sitting behind Bartlett.
It’s not the first time Bartlett has clashed with proponents of renewable energy. In April last year, the reporter engaged in a tense argument with an electric vehicle influencer in front of cameras at an auto show.
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After Youtuber and EV influencer Sam Evans, also known as the ‘Electric Viking’, interrupted Bartlett’s questioning of the energy minister, the reporter confronted him and said, “Hey mate, I don’t appreciate that. I’m talking to a minister of the crown.”
The two began to argue, with bystanders forced to intervene. Watch the video here.
