‘Deeply embarrassing’: Nuclear gurus have blasted Labor for energy scare campaign

Top nuclear scientists have accused the Albanese government of fearmongering over the energy source as both sides of politics ramp up scare campaigns around renewable energy.

• ‘Reckless memes undermine AUKUS’

One of Australia’s top nuclear scientists has accused Anthony Albanese of running a “deeply embarrassing” scare campaign on the renewable energy source, as another expert at a leading university backs Peter Dutton’s campaign.

A chorus of nuclear experts have also debunked claims around the cost of nuclear energy and the risks associated with radiation from power plants and their waste.

The experts blasted Labor figures for attempting to suggest nuclear power plants will lead to deformed koalas and fish with three eyes.

Award-winning nuclear researcher Dr Adi Paterson, who is the former boss of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, said recent social media posts from the Prime Minister — posted before the coalition’s nuclear policy was unveiled — showing Australia’s iconic locations were “under threat” because of nuclear energy were fuelling a “scare campaign”.

“For the Prime Minister of Australia to put his name behind a scare campaign that is not true is deeply embarrassing for Australia when for our national defence we are going to have nuclear submarines,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “I can’t understand why the PM would put out a scare campaign when he should be telling people it’s not scary.”

Former ANSTO CEO Adrian Paterson. Picture: Supplied

Nuclear for Climate Australia founder Rob Parker. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s energy debate has rapidly disintegrated into accusations of scare campaigns and misinformation on both sides, with the Coalition accused of supporting dubious claims about Labor’s offshore wind farms.

On Thursday, Assistant Employment Minister Andrew Leigh posted a cartoon of a three-eyed mutated koala standing in front of a nuclear power plant.

“Is this what Peter Dutton wants Blinky to look like in 50 years?” he wrote, referencing iconic cartoon koala Blinky Bill.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also posted a picture, showing a three-eyed deformed fish resulting from nuclear energy.

Labor MP Andrew Leigh claimed nuclear would lead to deformed koalas.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan shared this post. Picture: Supplied

On Monday, Nationals leader David Littleproud claimed that offshore wind farms in the Illawarra would impact whale migration — but Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revised the original proposal to now exclude the Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area from the farm.

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi also previously posted an AI-generated image of a mutated fish as a reminder to oppose nuclear energy.

Dr Paterson said Australia was making strides in nuclear medicine and had signed up to nuclear submarines for its defence strategy — making the opposition to nuclear energy isolated.

Engineer and founder of Nuclear for Climate Australia Robert Parker said the only place nuclear critics could “hide” was behind a “scare campaign”.

“This position they are taking with deformed animals and some of the other graphic design we see, there is no relation to the way civilian nuclear power systems work,” he said.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (Photo by LUKAS COCH / POOL / AFP)

“No member of the public has been exposed to radiation from nuclear power plants.

“On the waste issue, there has never been an incident that has had any effect on anybody from the storage of nuclear waste for a nuclear power plant.”

Mr Parker also pushed back against claims about the toxic health impacts, referencing a report from the United Nations Commission for Europe that showed “even renewables have a higher life cycle cancer producing effect than nuclear”.

“The toxic and non toxic effects of nuclear power are extremely low if you look at fair minded reports and the UN would not be described as a pro nuclear group,” he said.

“We are faced in a world now where political narratives are often derived or faced upon fear.

“We saw in Germany they turned off their nuclear power plans and having done that they have tanked their economy and driven up their emissions.”

David Littleproud meeting locals to discuss the planned offshore wind farm on the south coast. Pictured at a press conference in Wollongong. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Sydney University electrical engineering senior lecturer Dr Jeremy Qiu said he was supportive of the coalition’s nuclear plan.

He pushed back on claims nuclear was too expensive by clarifying that although it has much higher capital costs in the short term, the production of energy is more affordable than other renewable energy sources.

“” I will support nuclear power. As a power engineer this is very important to maintain energy security and energy stability in this energy crisis.

“Comparing nuclear to renewable, it is very stable, and its cost is very low. In terms of the running cost, it’s lower than coal and natural gas.

“But when we talk about capital cost investment — that will be much higher over the short term. The other thing is regarding the disposal of nuclear waste. There will be an extra cost for that as well,” he said.

Professor Qiu said if Australia wanted to develop its economy it was crucial to have a “stable and independent energy supply”.

“It’s a very stable and controllable output. I know there are some concerns about the safety issue, like if a disaster happens, but when we talk about energy supply, the most developed OECD countries, if they need to develop an economy, a stable and independent energy supply is critical. For economic development, a nuclear power plant is necessary in the mix.”