Ep. 376: The Energy Transition and the Politics of Renewables with Jono La Nauze and David McElrea | Australia’s Labor Podcast

This episode of Socially Democratic covers the politics of energy transition — why renewables are not just good for the planet, but smart economics and a political winner heading into the Victorian state election and beyond.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Jono La Nauze, CEO of Environment Victoria, and David McElrea, CEO of the Smart Energy Council.

They cover:

🍃 How renewables went from 15% to 45% of Australia’s electricity at half the cost of coal and gas. 

☀️ How One Nation voters are being misled about renewables, and what the polling actually shows. 

⛽ Why the Coalition’s Victorian energy policy is an act of economic self-harm. 

✊ The community organising story behind Victoria’s fracking ban. 

Mentioned in the Show:

Environment Victoria: https://environmentvictoria.org.au/campaign/2026-victorian-election/

Smart Energy Council: https://smartenergy.org.au

Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.

#AustralianPoliticsPodcast #AusPol #AustralianPolitics #LaborParty #ALP #AustralianLabor #ProgressivePolitics #SocialDemocracy #Podcast #CurrentAffairs #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #CostOfLiving #VictorianElection #EnvironmentVictoria #SmartEnergyCouncil #JonoLaNauze #DavidMcElrea #OneNation #SolarEnergy #Batteries #EV #FrackingVictoria #SECVictoria #OffshoreWind #JessWilson #NuclearEnergy #JayWeatherill #CommunityOrganising

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Ep. 375: Helen Haines