Chris O’Keefe’s debate with Barnaby Joyce at the Bush Summit.

He went head-to-head with Barnaby Joyce, making the case for why renewables are central to Australia’s energy future. It was not an easy conversation, but Chris believes these are the discussions we must have if we are serious about jobs, investment, and regional prosperity.

Change never happens in comfort zones. It happens when leaders step into challenging environments, engage with critics, and put forward a clear vision of what comes next. That is why Chris consistently advocates for Australia’s transition — to explain not only why renewables are the cheapest and fastest option, but also why they represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the regions that have powered this country for decades.

With 90 per cent of coal-fired power stations set to close within the next decade, the facts are unavoidable. We cannot simply switch off coal and do nothing. We must replace that power — and the evidence is clear that renewables backed by storage are the most affordable, reliable, and timely solution.

This is about more than cutting emissions. It is about protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Australians who rely on affordable energy every day. It is about giving regional communities the chance to attract new industries, new infrastructure, and new investment. And it is about ensuring Australia remains competitive in a world that is moving rapidly toward clean energy.

Debates like today are not comfortable, but they are necessary. They sharpen the arguments, expose the myths, and remind us that the transition is not abstract — it is urgent, and it is already underway. Chris was proud to stand up and make the case for renewables, because the stakes are too high to do anything else.

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