Dutton could pull constitutional trigger in nuclear clash with states
The opposition's long awaited nuclear costings do not include financial incentives to win over state governments who oppose the plan.
The man tasked with modelling Peter Dutton's $300 billion-plus nuclear policy has confirmed incentives for state governments were not factored into his costings, strengthening perceptions a Coalition government would use constitutional powers to override sceptical premiers and enforce its plan.
Dutton unveiled the long-awaited costings by Frontier Economics last week, but his plan to build seven nuclear reactors across Australia is yet to convince any premier in the states they would be located in.
Asked how he would make good on his pledge to convince sceptical state leaders, Dutton quipped in June: “I wouldn’t stand between a Premier and a bucket of money”.
Four of the five states pencilled in to host the Coalition's reactors have their own moratorium on nuclear energy, and even LNP Queensland Premier David Crisafulli ruled out reversing the state's ban during the recent election campaign.
