New.E Hunter New Energy is inviting the Hunter community to step away from the usual noise of energy politics and take part in a staged debate on the role of nuclear power in Australia’s future.
The lunch event, titled The Great Nuclear Debate – A Civilised Collision of Ideas, will be held on Wednesday 15 October 2025 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Newcastle Club. Guests will enjoy a two-course meal with drinks while listening to a structured exchange between two policy specialists from Strategic Analysis Australia.
Michael Shoebridge, founder of Strategic Analysis Australia, and Marcus Hellyer, the organisation’s Head of Research, will lead the performance. Shoebridge brings decades of experience in defence and national security, while Hellyer is recognised for his expertise in defence economics and the practical challenges of large-scale projects.
Unlike a traditional panel session, the debate is designed as a performance-style exchange, exploring nuclear power in an Australian and Hunter context. New.E say the format is “a ‘back-to-roots,’ objectively argued performance, free from the political and ideological tribalism that so often clouds this critical conversation.” After the formal discussion, the floor will open for audience questions and broader conversation.
The approach continues the style of New.E’s knowledge exchange series, creating a safe and respectful space for our region’s leaders and community to engage with difficult topics and learn from each other.
Guests are reminded that the Newcastle Club has a formal dress code.
