Peter Dutton’s announced plan for nuclear energy in Australia has sparked debate about the future of Australia’s energy. Image source: Commonwealth of Australia, via: Wikimedia Commons
Peter Dutton has announced his plans for nuclear energy as a key part of Australia’s future, a move that has garnered heavy debate regarding the proposition.
Dutton announced his proposal to build seven nuclear energy stations on Wednesday, outlining his expected timeline and chosen locations, but choosing to keep some of the details private.
He has stated that he will elaborate further on these details if he and his party are elected. These details include the decided cost of the project, which is currently unknown.
However, CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator’s cost study found that nuclear energy would be more expensive than renewables, an energy source Dutton has blamed for the rising cost of living.
When asked about where the money will come from, Dutton stated “it comes from the Australian taxpayer”.
The announcement comes after Dutton announced his intention to ignore the 2030 emission reduction target set by Labor and dismissed the Paris Climate accords. He further clarified he still aims for Australia to have zero net emissions by 2050.
Dutton states that the first sites could be operational between 2035 and 2037, far earlier than CSIRO and other experts believe is feasible.
In comparison, the United Arab Emirates, the only country to have built nuclear from scratch within the last 30 years, took 13 years and $36 billion AUD to begin delivering.
A further potential issue with nuclear energy Dutton may have to overcome is commonwealth legislation, which currently prohibits nuclear power generation in Australia.
While Dutton, if elected, may be able to allow nuclear energy at a federal level, state premiers have shown some reluctance to change state laws. Local communities have shown mixed opinions.
The seven proposed sites are:
- Tarong in Queensland, north-west of Brisbane
- Callide in Queensland, west of Gladstone
- Liddell in NSW, in the Hunter Valley
- Mount Piper in NSW, near Lithgow
- Port Augusta in SA
- Loy Yang in Victoria, in the Latrobe Valley
- Muja in WA, near Collie
When asked if nuclear power plants would be able to proceed if communities rejected them, Nationals leader David Littleproud stated that the plants would proceed regardless of community views.
“Peter Dutton and David Littleproud as part of a Coalition government is prepared to make the tough decisions in the national interest,” said Littleproud.
Labor has heavily critiqued Dutton’s proposal, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers calling the Coalition’s nuclear plan, “the dumbest policy ever put forward by a major party.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the plan “a fantasy”, stating on Thursday, “instead of Snow White and the seven dwarves, this is Peter Dutton and the seven nuclear reactors.”
