Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has conceded the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan relies on many of Australia’s ageing coal-fired power stations running for at least another 12 years, which is a timeframe most energy experts agree will not work because most will be shut down by 2035.

Gas power would also be “a huge feature” of the energy mix under a Coalition government, Mr Dutton said, confirming the fears of critics that the nuclear policy would mean significantly extending the use of fossil fuels.