Former Liberal minister appointed to advise PM on climate rejects nuclear

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that his government would appoint Mr Kean to lead the Climate Change Authority.

The former Liberal NSW treasurer, who previously served as energy minister in the Berejiklian government, was asked at a press conference on Monday if he thought nuclear energy had a role to play in Australia's transition to net zero.

Mr Kean recounted how, on his first day as NSW energy minister in 2019 he was briefed on the challenge of meeting the state's energy needs as four of its coal-fired power stations reached the end of their lives within a decade.

"We looked at all options, including nuclear ... and made decisions based on economics and engineering," he said.

The "compelling" expert advice of NSW Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, a British-Australian engineer who previously ran the United Kingdom nuclear weapons program, was that bringing nuclear into Australia's energy system "would take far too long and would be far too expensive".

"I didn't want to bankrupt the state and I didn't want to put those huge costs onto families," he said.

Asked if Opposition Leader Peter Dutton approach was "undermining investment in renewables in Australia", Mr Kean said that as the Climate Change Authority's chair, "my job is to advise the government based on evidence, that includes engineering evidence, economic evidence and scientific evidence. And that's what I intend to do."

Mr Kean said he would be apolitical in the role, which would enable him to "continue providing public service".

"This is not about ideology, this is about outcomes," Mr Kean told reporters.

"We need to make decisions based on facts."

The authority is an independent body which advises the federal government on climate change policy.

Mr Kean, who retired from politics earlier this month, will take over from current chair Grant King.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the appointment was a captain's pick, telling reporters: "I recommended to the Prime Minister and then the cabinet his appointment because I knew he was the best for the job."

Mr Kean said he would "take a pragmatic approach to ... protect the environment and build bipartisan consensus where possible".

"We have an opportunity to deliver families some of the cheapest electricity bills anywhere in the world, but we've got to get it right.

"This is too important to leave to chance. We need policies based on facts and evidence, and that's what I intend to be advising the government."

Mr Albanese said: "We are proud to appoint Mr Kean today for this important role and as part of the expert team that will deliver these benefits for our economy."

Mr Bowen said that Mr Kean's economic expertise meant he understood that "good climate and energy policy is good economic policy".

"I thank Grant King for his leadership of the Climate Change Authority, which has seen the authority restored to its proper role in supporting the government's responsible climate goals," he said.

"Matt Kean's time in public office was marked by reform and the ability to bring people from across the political spectrum with him for the good of the community."