Because she's aware that it's all too easy for those large companies to depart Australian shores.
Really? BHP is magically going to find another huge heap of copper and Uranium? And Rio is going to find other people to sell electricity to and just pack up shop here?
Seriously, what major manufacturing is still left in Australia that would leave because of a tiny percentage increase in their cost?
Perhaps that's because solar and wind are roughly 4-10 times more expensive
Only if you care about short term return. In the long term, they are all cheaper.
intermittent on supply and fail to produce when power needs are highest
That's what we have enough existing fossil burning plants for. Nuclear is a great option for base load too.
Pitiful wages to the majority of the population?
If more than half of the households (yes, including multiple-income families) earn less than $40K/year, have no hope of a pension, child care financial help or medical insurance to speak of, then yes, I call that "pitiful".
You are not seriously trying to suggest the US economy (and the policies that created it) is all hunk-dory, right?