Despite the continuing political arm-wrestling on climate policy, a remarkable degree of public consensus has developed over the past few years.

From this, the two major parties could build a bipartisan operational strategy for assuring ample long-term electricity supply in an increasingly electricity-dependent economy.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are at odds over the country’s energy future.Credit: Rhett Wyman, Getty, Alex Ellinghausen

So, how has public opinion shifted? First, there is a consensus that climate change is happening and that we should respond. Both main parties already support the 2050 net zero target.

Second, we should transition away from coal generation as the current fleet of generators reaches the end of their economic lives. Only a fringe view still argues for building new coal-generation capacity.

Third, given our natural advantages in renewables (solar and wind), these should form the core of the replacement capacity. The daily fluctuations in renewables generation should be smoothed with batteries and pumped hydro.

Fourth: renewables, by themselves, cannot provide assured reliability. In sustained periods of low renewable generation, additional generation capacity will be needed. This additional capacity will also be needed during the lumpy phase-out of coal generation.

Will electricity be cheaper for households? Probably not.

Fifth: community concerns about the safety of nuclear have diminished. The unresolved issues are cost and speed of implementation.........

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