Dutton pitches two Queensland nuclear power sites – and power to take them

The news

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has confirmed the two Queensland-based sites where the Coalition intends to build nuclear reactors and says an Australian government led by him could acquire the land if needed.

The Coalition would replace ageing coal-fired power facilities at Tarong, about 140 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, and Callide, inland from Gladstone, with Commonwealth-owned nuclear power stations.

Dutton said the federal government would have “ample power” to compulsorily acquire the two state-owned coal-fired power stations.

Why it matters

Details of the long-awaited federal Liberal and National Coalition’s uncosted plans for seven nuclear power plants nationwide will heap further pressure on the state-based LNP, which is due to face voters in a key election in October.

It comes amid debate on Queensland’s energy future, which has been centred on pumped hydro, and the impact of renewable projects on regional communities.

The head of the International Energy Agency has stated Australia does not need nuclear power as it transitions away from fossil fuels in its bid to help avert global climate change. The CSIRO, meanwhile, has found nuclear reactors could not be built until 2040 and would cost up to $16 billion each.

LNP leader David Crisafulli has sought to distance himself from Dutton’s plan, repeatedly saying nuclear would not have his support until there was federal bipartisanship.

He labelled the nuclear power debate a “Canberra-centred distraction” and said he would not wind back Queensland’s ban on the technology if elected.

While Crisafulli’s state LNP team remains supportive of the pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, along with interim targets, it has opposed Labor’s legislated renewable energy targets and has not commented on federal suggestions the nuclear sites could be acquired if needed.

What they said

“Today we announce seven locations that we have looked at in great detail over a long period of time that can host new nuclear sites, and that’ll be part of an energy mix with renewables and significant amounts of gas into the system, particularly in the interim period,” Dutton said.

“We will work with the companies, the owners of the sites, and if we find a situation where we apply a national interest test and we require that site to be part of the national grid, then the legal advice that we have is that the Commonwealth has ample power to compulsorily acquire that site with ample compensation.”

While Dutton suggested smaller reactors could be operational by 2035, or larger reactors by 2037, he was unable to answer questions about the costs, what type of reactors would be used, where nuclear waste would be stored, or how the Commonwealth would deal with coal plants in private ownership under companies with no plans for nuclear energy.

Perspectives

Premier Steven Miles slammed Dutton’s plan, saying Queenslanders would face higher electricity bills if nuclear power was pursued over his pumped hydro plans.

“We know that nuclear reactors are four to six times more expensive,” Miles said.

“That means your electricity bill could go up four to six times to fund these nuclear reactors that the LNP wants to build in Queensland.

“And that is not to mention how future generations, my kids, your kids, will need to manage dangerous radioactive nuclear waste forever. That’s what that plan means.”

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick used a separate media conference on Wednesday to describe the Coalition’s plan as a “nuclear attack” on the state’s renewable energy future.

“David Crisafulli knows that federal law overrides state law … he knows that Peter Dutton’s plan to implement federal law to override state law will work. He knows that, he hasn’t been telling the truth about that,” Dick said.

Crisafulli, fronting media in Townsville, was asked eight times about various elements of Dutton’s proposal and answered most by repeating: “It’s not part of our plan.”

The LNP has opposed the Miles government’s Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project. The Pioneer-Burdekin proposal near Mackay, which would involve constructing three dams at a cost of around $12 billion or more, has been touted as the world’s largest pumped hydro scheme.

Its energy plans include a guarantee for ongoing maintenance for coal-fired power stations, new laws to ensure all energy projects are treated equally and, possibly, a smaller, more manageable pumped hyrdo project.

Queensland-based federal MP for Hinkler, Keith Pitt - an LNP member who sits in the Nationals party room in Canberra - described Crisafulli as “a cat on a hot tin roof” whose position was about “trying to take the LNP into government”.

What you need to know

The existing Tarong power station is owned and operated by the Queensland government’s Stanwell Corporation, while Callide is run and partly owned by state entities – but facing efforts to bring it back into full state ownership.

Queensland’s Labor government has proposed turning ageing coal-fired power stations, already connected to the energy grid, into clean energy hubs in its push to wind back reliance on the fossil fuel by 2035.