Australia could have nuclear reactors up and running in 10 years, the head of the government's nuclear task force says.
The suggestion comes as Labor Leader Kim Beazley predicted the next federal election would effectively be a referendum on nuclear power.
"(We) could see the first nuclear reactor in Australia as quickly as 10 years out," former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski told Network Ten today.
Dr Switkowski last week released his report on a possible nuclear energy industry in Australia, concluding 25 nuclear reactors could produce a third of Australia's electricity by 2050.
The controversial report found nuclear reactors would need to be built close to population centres, mainly on the east coast, but that nuclear power would not be competitive with coal unless a price was placed on carbon emissions.
Today he said if Australia moved quickly, it could have a new nuclear power plant in action in 10 years, but a more likely time frame would be 15 years.
Dr Switkowski said it would then take several decades to build up Australia's nuclear power infrastructure to have systems running at maximum efficiency around the country.
"Realistically, I think the figure would be 15 and then you've got a future of several decades of building up a national network of reactors."
But for the moment nuclear power remained uncompetitive as a baseload power source when compared to products such as coal, he reiterated.
He said most major power suppliers would shy away from investing in nuclear without the government forcing change through the introduction of policies that legislated greenhouse gas reductions.
Dr Switkowski said he did not think renewable power sources such as wind could contribute much to Australia's baseload power needs.
He said his report at least had Australians looking at the nuclear option with an open mind.
Mr Beazley said the majority of Australians remained unconvinced about Prime Minister John Howard's push to go nuclear.
"There is no question, at the next election there will be a referendum on nuclear power," Mr Beazley told ABC TV.
"If John Howard is elected you can guarantee there will be 25 nuclear power plants, and waste dumps, (around Australia).
"We are not a nation that needs nuclear power, we are not a nation that needs to go down that road."
Mr Beazley said Australia could meet its future energy needs through the use of renewable energy and clean coal technology.
Asked if he was committed to introducing both mandatory renewable energy targets and an emissions trading system if Labor won power, Mr Beazley said both could be done at the same time.
Labor's resources spokesman Martin Ferguson said if the government was planning on opening nuclear power stations, Mr Howard must tell Australians where they will be built.
AAP