NSW must get fired up over nuclear power, says NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro believes energy is the single largest issue the government has failed to plan for, with nuclear power an obvious solution to our looming power shortage.

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Nuclear power can cut energy bills, reduce emissions and guarantee base load energy to the grid — but very few politicians in Australia are willing to consider it.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro believes energy is the single largest issue the government has failed to plan for, with nuclear power an obvious solution to our looming power shortage.

With coal fired power plants in Australia slowly shutting down over the next few decades, Mr Barilaro says Australians should be educated about the benefits of nuclear energy so they can form a view on it.

Mr Barilaro says Australians should be educated about the benefits of nuclear energy.

“We need to begin the conversation about nuclear energy as a real solution to our ongoing energy debate,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“Nuclear supplies baseload energy, zero emissions, no fossil fuels and is likely the cheapest cost to the average Australian household.”

The power source is currently banned in Australia and during the federal election campaign prime minister Scott Morrison said he had no plans to reverse the laws.

Sydney is home to the only nuclear reactor in the country, with the Lucas Heights facility used purely for scientific research purposes rather than electricity generation.

OPINION: TIME FOR NUCLEAR OPTION DEBATE

Opponents to nuclear power say the reactors are far too expensive to build, the need for baseload electricity is exaggerated and the radioactive waste needs to be stored securely for years.

Mr Barilaro said this opposition to nuclear energy might change if people were educated more about the resource.

Nuclear supplies baseload energy, zero emissions, no fossil fuels and is likely the cheapest cost to the average Australian household,” Mr Barilaro says.

“Part of the issue we have is a lack of knowledge in Australia regarding technological change within the industry,” he said.

“Nuclear will not be seen as a solution until the general public understand the environmental benefits together with reassurance on the issue of safety.”

His support for nuclear power comes after two Liberal National Party members for Queensland, MP Keith Pitt and Senator James McGrath, have signalled they will push for a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power this year.

Mr Pitt said the first step in the process will be a government feasibility study into nuclear power.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro believes energy is the single largest issue the government has failed to plan for.

“I am not saying that there is a nuclear reactor coming to a shopping centre near you but we have to be able to investigate all options,” he said.

“All I am calling for is an inquiry as to whether it’s a feasible option to ensure we are up to date with the latest information.”

NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham is also supportive of nuclear power, and talked up the energy source during his maiden speech to parliament.

“NSW should be a global energy superpower, with abundant nuclear, coal-fired, gas and renewable energy,” he said.

“Yet across the country, nuclear is banned, while coal is being run out of the market through the subsidies, targets and special deals being offered to renewable energy.”

Nuclear energy is widely used in Europe, with nuclear power in France providing about 70 per cent of the country’s electricity needs. Australia also has the world’s largest uranium reserves, accounting for about one third of the uranium on the planet.