Premiers and Liberal leaders cast doubt on Dutton’s nuclear plan
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More news: A group of premiers and Liberal state leaders have poured cold water on nuclear reactors in their state, in a potentially fatal blow to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan to have two by 2037.
For the plan to work, Dutton would need to convince the states to lift their own moratorium on nuclear energy. Labor premiers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland (which collectively account for five of Dutton’s seven suggested sites) have rejected the plan.
In another blow for Dutton, Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli has said "no", while Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto insisted he had “no plans” for nuclear power in his state. Dutton argues the states could be convinced through extra funding.
Ahead of the announcement on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the idea as “economic madness” and a “recipe” for higher energy prices.
“You can't have energy security by saying we'll do nothing for 15 years,” Albanese told ABC radio.
What they said: Speaking on Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “We’ve got our ban in place. If there’s a constitutional way for a hypothetical Dutton government to move through the state planning powers, I’m not aware of it”.
Dutton pledges to build two nuclear reactors by 2037
The news: The Coalition has pledged to build seven large-scale nuclear reactors, including two by 2037, under a plan revealed by leader Peter Dutton on Wednesday.
The numbers: The plan would see seven government-owned reactors built in total, including two potential sites in NSW (at Lithgow and Liddell), two in Queensland (at Tarong and Callide), one in Victoria (at Loy Yang), one in WA (at Collie), and one in SA (at Port Augusta).
The context: Dutton has been advocating nuclear energy since last year, suggesting reactors could be located at the sites of decommissioned coal-fired power stations.
Coalition MPs were called to a snap online meeting on Wednesday morning, where they were briefed on the policy before Dutton’s announcement. Senior Liberal sources have previously told Capital Brief that the push for nuclear power is an attempt to keep the Coalition’s two factions — the moderates and conservatives — from fracturing after a decade of division over climate change.
Former prime minister John Howard banned nuclear energy in 1998, but the Coalition will also have to convince state premiers to lift their own moratoriums. NSW Premier Chris Minns has ruled that out and Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli, who is on track to become premier in October, has followed suit.
Under Dutton's plan, the large-scale reactors would likely be government-owned following a similar model to Snowy Hydro.
Experts are also sceptical about the plan, with the CSIRO warning large-scale nuclear plants would be more expensive than wind and solar backed by batteries, and take longer to get online. Labor has also warned nuclear is unfeasible and costly.
While the Coalition had promised to reveal details on its nuclear plan before the federal election, Dutton says it will not set a 2030 emissions reductions target until after Australians have voted.
But he has pledged to water down Labor’s 43% target, casting doubt over Australia’s ability to remain in the Paris Agreement. Nationals leader David Littleproud and senior Liberal Simon Birmingham are also at odds over the role large-scale renewables will play under a Coalition government.
What they said: “We'll work with the state premiers. There's some debate about that I see. [But] somebody famously said: 'I would not stand between the Premier and a bucket of money' ... We'll be able to address those issues," Dutton said to the media after the meeting.
The source: Peter Dutton's Office
