The Clean Energy Council has appointed Walkley Award-winning former Channel Nine journalist and 2GB radio host, Chris O’Keefe, as its new national spokesperson in an effort to help Australians make sense of an intensifying national energy debate.
O’Keefe has more than 15 years of experience working at the highest levels of Australian media, including as a reporter for Nine News, the Today Show, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes, as well as writing for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Most recently, he was the host of the successful drive program on 2GB in Sydney.
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Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton said, “As a former talkback radio host, Chris has made a career out of cutting through the noise and making the complex, simple to understand. He will play a critical role in seeking out answers to the tough questions Australians want to know about our energy transition and calling out misinformation when we see it.”
O’Keefe said, “Australians want the facts about the future of our energy system. We are not interested in ideology; we just want the cheapest power bills possible and a secure energy system that keeps the lights on and allows our farmers, manufacturers and businesses— the backbone of this great country—to flourish.
“I have spent my whole career taking complex information, cutting through the jargon and politics and telling people the truth. Above all, I want common-sense solutions for Australian families and businesses, including an energy system that is reliable, affordable and sustainable.
“After all, it was only twelve years ago that the country’s first grid-scale solar farm, the Greenough River Solar Farm near Geraldton in Western Australia, became operational. Today almost half (40%) of our energy is generated by clean energy.
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“This speed and efficiency in addressing a complicated problem for our nation is what clean energy delivers and this is why I made the choice to advocate for the industry that works not only in the national interest, but in the best interests of Aussie families and businesses,” he said.
The Clean Energy Council is set to embark on a public information campaign to help provide Australians with a central source of truth this election year.
