Helen Caldicott slams Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan ahead of Shoalhaven vote

An Australian anti-nuclear advocate, who advised US President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War, has slammed Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan as a “pipedream”, saying he has “no idea”.

Helen Caldicott, left, has slammed the nuclear plan proposed by Peter Dutton, right. Pictures: Supplied, file

An Australian anti-nuclear advocate, who says she held a US president’s hand during the Cold War, has slammed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plan as “a pipedream”, saying he has “no idea what he’s talking about”.

The stern words came from physician and author Helen Caldicott, who is set to meet with a NSW south coast community amid calls to keep the Shoalhaven nuclear-free.

Dr Caldicott, who lectured US President Ronald Reagan on the dangers of nuclear energy during the Cold War, said nuclear power plants “must not” be built anywhere in Australia, including the south coast.

“I spent an hour-and-a-half with President Reagan in the White House talking to him all about this, talking about nuclear war, nuclear energy, holding his hand through it all,” Dr Caldicott, 85, told this masthead.

“I’ve written extensively on the medical dangers of nuclear energy.

Helen Caldicott advised US President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War. Pictures: Supplied

“There are five-year-olds in Germany who live 5km from nuclear power plants who are being diagnosed with leukaemia.”

Dr Caldicott will be meeting with members of the Shoalhaven community on Sunday to discuss this very issue.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire.

The meeting follows Mr Dutton announcing his plan to construct nuclear power plants around Australia should he be elected prime minister at next year’s election.

Last month, the federal opposition leader announced seven locations for power plants, including Victoria’s Gippsland area, Callide and Tarong in Queensland, Port Augusta in South Australia, Collie in West Australia, Lithgow in central west NSW and Liddell in the NSW Hunter Region.

However, Dr Caldicott said it was never going to happen.

“[Dutton’s] nuclear energy plan is a pipedream,” she said.

A cooling tower at the Constellation Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Scriba, New York, in the United States. Picture: Lauren Petracca/Bloomberg

“He has no idea what he’s talking about; he has no idea what he’s doing.

“We need a scientist in government who understands how this all works, who understands how nuclear energy works and who understands the very real dangers.”

The anti-nuclear calls from the 85-year-old author and physician come as Shoalhaven Council prepares to vote on whether it will continue to classify the coastal region as a nuclear-free zone.

Shoalhaven councillors Tonia Gray and Gillian Boyd put forth a motion calling on councillors to declare the region nuclear-free at an upcoming council meeting on Monday.

Shoalhaven councillors Tonia Gray, right, and Gillian Boyd, right. Pictures: Shoalhaven City Council

Ms Gray said it was the exact motion voted through by council in June 2006.

“The entire Shoalhaven needs to remain nuclear-free,” she said.

“We need nuclear for medical uses, like X-rays, but as for an energy use, I would have to see much more evidence than what’s been put on the table.”

The motion put forward for a vote asks councillors to “assure the Shoalhaven community that council will oppose any plan or attempt to establish a nuclear reactor or nuclear power plant in the Shoalhaven City, in the Shoalhaven River catchment, or in Commonwealth Territory of Jervis Bay”.

Dr Caldicott said the vote was a “no-brainer”.

“It’s just too dangerous,” she said.

“They don’t know what they’re doing.”

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