Thought Leadership: Tribal War Must End in Australian Energy Debate

 

 

The Managing Director of Australian Energy Week, Aleks Zids, has called for an end to tribal warfare in the Australian energy sector.

Read his opinion piece, published in The Australian, below.

 

By Aleks Zids

Australian Energy Week Managing Director 

UNDERSTANDING the rules of tribalism once meant the difference between survival and extinction.

It is hardwired into our biology and psychology.

Tribalism satisfies the fundamental human need of belonging, defining our identity and providing security.

It also offers a divisive “us versus them” narrative.

That narrative simplifies complex realities in ways that can distort our perceptions.

Mapping Australia’s energy future is one of those complex problems you simply can’t solve if you can’t see the facts dispassionately and with crystal clarity.

It’s a job for the head, not for the heart; for teams not tribes.

For decades, tribalism has reigned and as a result, Australia is an international anomaly.

We lead the world in energy resources, wind, gas, solar andcoal as well as abundant land and coastline.

From any reasonable global perspective, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

However, somehow, we also lead the world in uncertainty over our energy future.

It’s a staggering state of play.

It’s because in the tribal mind, the other is not just wrong, they are a threat, an enemy to be defeated, not another viewpoint to be understood and considered. And in that chaos, reason over energy has been a casualty.

With coal retiring from the system, we urgently need to build new generation and a new system to support it.

There is agreement on this point, but real debate on what to replace coal with.

This debate has a real cost.

The uncertainty created by big changes in policy directions, is an anathema to investors who need to invest billions over long time horizons.

Policy certainty would be at the top of their Christmas wish list.

The energy industry has been placed, against their will, on a dizzying carousel of energy policies and opposition proposals.

Consensus and certainty have been in short supply.

In June, Australian Energy Week, will bring together all of the country’s energy leaders in one place to discuss the future.

It is my hope that all sides will come together, following the Federal Election and solve the energy problems critical to our future.

It is time to lay down our tribal differences and harness the talent and intellect that is drawn to the energy sector to find the solutions that matter.

We can do that right now.

Among the most important pieces of work this year is the review of market rules by a team of experts led by the brilliant Dr Tim Nelson.

But this is just the beginning of the essential work that needs to be done.

What Australia needs now is a shift from tribal thinking to a shared national purpose; a recognition that our energy future is too important to be caught in ideological battles.

We must move beyond the politics of division and embrace a culture of cooperation, grounded in facts and driven by the common goal of securing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.

This requires, leaders who are willing to transcend tribal narratives, listen to diverse perspectives, and prioritise long-term solutions over short-term gains.

It calls for industry, government, and communities to work together, pooling knowledge and innovation to develop a resilient energy system that leverages our abundant resources.

The challenges are immense, but so are the opportunities.

With the right approach and forums like Australian Energy Week, we can become not just a global leader in energy resources, but also a beacon of pragmatic, evidence-based planning.

We can turn our natural advantages into a competitive edge that benefits our economy, our environment and people.

The path forward demands courage, humility, and a willingness to listen.

It’s about recognising that the best solutions arise when we combine our diverse strengths rather than fight over them.

Let’s seize this moment.