Labor MPs accused of undermining AUKUS with nuclear attack

Labor MPs have been accused of undermining the AUKUS subs deal with "reckless" anti-nuclear propaganda, as the Coalition calls on Anthony Albanese to rule out a scare campaign.

Labor MPs have been accused of undermining the AUKUS submarine deal with “reckless” anti-nuclear propaganda, as the Coalition calls on Anthony Albanese to rule out a scare campaign.

AI-generated images of three-eyed fish and references to the infamous nuclear plant on The Simpsons have featured in memes shared by several Labor politicians on social media taking aim at the Coalition’s plan to build seven reactors in Australia if elected.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the campaign implying nuclear technology was unsafe was a direct threat to community support for a nuclear industry required to deliver the AUKUS subs.

“Anthony Albanese needs to shut down this reckless behaviour by Labor MPs and premiers,” he said.

“Labor needs to put the national interest ahead of political games and rule out scare campaigns that endanger the support for AUKUS.”

Australia will need a domestic nuclear industry to maintain and operate its future SSN-AUKUS submarine fleet. Picture: BAE Systems

Mr Birmingham said Australia needed to recruit thousands of people to work on the construction, operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines and it was “shameful” for Labor MPs to put that at risk.

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh on Tuesday posted a photo of a three-eyed Blinky Bill koala with the caption “is this what Peter Dutton wants Blinky to look like in 50 years?”

Labor MP Andrew Leigh’s meme. Picture: Instagram

Labor MP Dan Repacholi has posted a meme of a three-eyed fish suggesting the Coalition’s nuclear plan is environmentally dangerous. The Opposition said this undermines AUKUS. Picture: Instagram

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi posted an AI-image of a man holding a four-eyed fish suggesting it was the future for NSW’s Lake Macquarie if there was a “risky” nuclear power plant in his electorate.

In response to the Coalition’s accusations, Mr Leigh said Labor was committed to delivering AUKUS.

“I’d be very happy to have a discussion about the facts of Peter Dutton’s policy, but there just isn’t any detail,” he said.

Mr Leigh claimed locals near six of the seven proposed nuclear sites did not want a plant in their backyard.

The three-eyed fish from The Simpsons is being commonly referenced by Labor and union movements attacking nuclear energy. Picture: Supplied

The Prime Minister would not directly rule out a campaign on nuclear safety, but said his primary concern was the cost and reliability of nuclear.

“These major cracks in their nuclear reactor plan will mean that Peter Dutton is taking a radioactive sledgehammer to the Australian economy.” he said.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Coalition were “hypocrites” as former PM Scott Morrison had clearly said there was “no link” between AUKUS and a domestic nuclear power industry.

“It is the Liberals who are drawing false links between AUKUS and domestic power in a desperate bid to distract from the trainwreck which was their policy announcement,” he said.

South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas said his position on a nuclear industry was different to his interstate colleagues.

“I’m okay with the presence of a nuclear industry within our country and I mean more broadly, I actually firmly believe that nuclear power is a necessary part of the global energy mix if we’re going to achieve net zero,” he said.

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Originally published as Labor MPs accused of undermining AUKUS with nuclear attack