Teenage Nuclear Advocate Tells of Threats, Smears at Inquiry Into Climate Misinformation

Nineteen-year-old Will Shackel, a leading advocate for Australia to establish a civilian nuclear energy sector, says he has endured ongoing abuse and harassment for his campaigning.

Shackel founded Nuclear for Australia three years ago to address what he calls mis- and disinformation about nuclear power.

Its website currently has over 100,000 supporters.

Abuse Follows Public Appearances

At a recent parliamentary inquiry, Shackel revealed that since going public, he’s had to deal with threats against his family.

“I’ve had abuse and death threats that I’ve had to get sorted out, particularly after some of my media activity,” he told the Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy.

“I don’t think it would be hard to find by looking up my name, around people’s criticisms of my personal experience and all the rest of it.

“I’ve had journalists who’ve come after me and my family.”

The teenager also noted that he had been a target of misinformation.

Specifically, he cited examples of being labelled a “conspiracy theorist” and of having links to the coal industry.

“I’m very aware, being active on social media and stuff, that I’ll get push-back from members of the public and whatever, but when it gets really personal like that, and when it’s large organisations, which we, frankly, should expect better of,” Shackel said.

Shackel’s Allegations About Attacks from the Media

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan asked Shackel which media outlets had gone after him and his family.

In response, the teenager said it was “fringe outlets” such as the left-wing news website Crikey and the analysis website focused on renewables, Renew Economy.

Shackel alleged that Renew Economy had tried to contact his dad’s office to come up with narratives.

“He does some work around renewables and stuff, so obviously they’re trying to put a hole in it—trying to claim that there were some family divisions, which is obviously not the case,” he said.

“There were many people in the renewables industry who have concerns around our system and understand the need for nuclear power in the mix, but I thought that was completely inappropriate.”

Regarding Crikey, Shackel alleged that the outlet had made abusive descriptions of him as well as unreasonable media requests.

“They were sending really unreasonable media requests during my exam time, which I communicated to them,” he said.

Following Shackle’s comments, Canavan criticised the media’s alleged behaviour, calling it inappropriate.

“I think it’s inappropriate to go after the family of a young person who is trying to involve themselves in a public debate,” he said.

Response from Outlets

A spokesperson for Renew Economy said the website rejected Shackel’s claim about harassment.

“Renew Economy unequivocally rejects any suggestion that we have harassed or “gone after” Will Shackel or his family,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

“The claim is entirely unfounded and represents the kind of misinformation that is increasingly weaponised to distract from facts and undermine credible journalism.”

Renew Economy also denied that it had reached out to the office of Shackel’s father.

“We have never contacted Windlab, Will Shackel or Mark Shackel to ask about their relationship. We have not written or published any articles about it,” they said.

“The idea that we have harassed or sought to intimidate Will Shackel on this issue is quite absurd.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to Crikey for comment, who did publish an article online after Shackel’s testimony.

Rainforest Advocacy Group Head Claims a Firearm Pulled On Him

Shackel is not the only witness who raised concerns about abuse at the inquiry.

Steven Nowakowski, vice president of Rainforest Reserves Australia (RRA), also talked about the negative experiences of his group’s volunteers.

RRA has been vocal in opposing the destruction of rainforests and wildlife habitats to make way for renewable energy projects.

“Our organisation volunteers have been attacked in every way imaginable, verbal abuse, hate speech, and even a firearm pulled on me personally by a proposed wind farm host,” Nowakowski said.

“We had our website attacked the day after we released our mapping [on renewable energy projects], and years of our work were stolen.”

In early October 2025, Rainforest Reserves Australia launched an interactive online map tracking renewable projects across Australia.

The organisation said implementing net zero would result in 31,000 wind turbines, 550 millions solar panels, and tens of thousands of kilometres of transmission lines and new roads being built across Australia.