Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has dismissed speculations that the Liberals plan to build nuclear power plants near residential areas.
In an interview with 7 News’ Sunrise program, Mr. Dutton briefly revealed part of the opposition’s upcoming nuclear plan.
The opposition leader is expected to announce his party’s nuclear policy in May before delivering his budget reply speech.
Mr. Dutton said the opposition was interested in using the existing distribution network of coal-fired power plants to avoid the need to build new infrastructure.
“There’s already the ability to distribute with the existing network. That is a much smarter play.
“When you look at people like Bill Gates and others who really pushed hard for these sort of outcomes, it means that you get the highest yield of energy off the lowest environmental footprint, and it’s zero emissions.”
While Mr. Dutton did not disclose the specific locations of the nuclear power stations under the opposition’s plan, he said there were a few areas in the country with a coal-fired power generator.
Opposition May Pursue Large-Scale Nuclear Power Plants
Meanwhile, Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said small modular reactors would likely not be the only option for his party’s energy policy, opening the doors for larger-scale nuclear reactors to be part of Australia’s energy mix.“Any coal-to-nuclear strategy should consider different types of new and emerging nuclear technologies, from advanced microreactors to small modular reactors and next-generation large reactors.”
Mr. Dutton also said the advancement in technology had made nuclear power a feasible option when it came to firming up the power grid.
“The technology is unbelievable compared to what it was 50 or 70 years ago,” he said.
“The small modular reactors, for example, is a new technology. It doesn’t resemble anything that you’ve seen in the past.
“It’s like comparing a motor vehicle you’re driving off the showroom floor today in 2024, compared to something in 1954.”
At the same time, the opposition leader emphasised that Australia was the only G20 country that did not have or had not agreed to adopt nuclear power.
“The latest technology means that you can switch off old coal assets and start with a firming capacity,” he said.
“It means that we can have cheaper prices, it means that we can have reliable energy, it means that we can keep the Australian jobs because, at the moment, manufacturing is going offshore because they simply can’t afford to stay here.”
PM Looks Forward to Opposition’s Nuclear Plan
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was looking forward to hearing the opposition’s upcoming nuclear plan.“I look forward to [Mr. Dutton] announcing the locations for nuclear reactors in Australia and for there to be an appropriate debate,” he told reporters.
“I also look forward as well to him announcing where the financing will come for such reactors and whether taxpayers will be expected to pay for this because we know what the cheapest form of new energy is.”
Mr. Dutton’s statement comes after Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen disparaged nuclear power as “hot air.”
Mr. Bowen also claimed that nuclear was not being pushed by the opposition as a “genuine” alternative to Labor’s renewable energy plan.
“It’s being used as a distraction and a delaying tactic,” he said.
“No plan for nuclear power in Australia will survive contact with reality. The Australian people deserve more than hot air to power their homes and businesses.”
