Dutton has ‘frank’ meeting in first Collie visit since nuclear plan announced

A small band of anti-nuclear protesters assembled outside a secretive meeting between opposition leader Peter Dutton and Shire of Collie councillors and staff in the South West town this morning.

Dutton met with several shire staff and councillors, including president Ian Miffling, alongside Nuclear for Australia staff to discuss his party’s energy policy, which has seen Collie’s soon-to-be-retired coal power station sites identified as a potential location for a nuclear reactor.

Protestors outside Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s meeting with Shire of Collie councillors and staff on Friday.

Dutton has come under fire from state and federal Labor ministers in the five months since making the announcement for not making the trip to Collie to explain his policy, which has proved a polarising issue in the town, in person.

This was his first to Collie since the announcement, but his office did not confirm it ahead of time and cameras were not invited.

About five protesters local to Collie and from Nuclear Free WA gathered outside the shire’s offices as the meeting was being held.

Miffling confirmed to this masthead he and most of the council had a “frank” discussion with Dutton about the policy.

They also viewed a presentation from Nuclear for Australia representatives about how small-modular nuclear reactors worked, how they were cooled, and what waste they produced.

The 90-minute meeting opened to questions when councillors and staff asked about public safety, cost, economic benefit and waste management.

Miffling described the meeting as “excellent”, and said Dutton was frank, though he could not give definitive answers on several aspects of the policy.

“It was very good, very respectful. and he was very open to the questions and gave good answers,” Miffling said.

The shire president also said Dutton relayed that he was receptive to working with state governments, many of whom already have advanced renewable energy transition plans.

WA Premier Roger Cook has previously confirmed he did not support a nuclear reactor in WA.

The Shire of Collie does not have a formal position on the proposal, and Miffling said he did not personally have a position yet, but was receptive to “listening and learning”.

He said community views on the proposal were mixed.

One of the protesters Collie Aboriginal elder Philip Ugle said outside the meeting he did not want a nuclear reactor in the town.

“I’m concerned about a lot of things, concerned about the environment, concerned about the poison that comes off those places,” he said.

“Where are they going to put those poisons?”

Dutton later told the ABC at a press conference in Busselton that he accepted the protesters didn’t support nuclear power, “but the vast majority of people do I believe in the local community.”

Dutton was in Busselton on Friday morning to formalise the Coalition’s policy to scrap an offshore wind farm zone off the Geographe Bay coastline.

He was joined by Canning MP Andrew Hastie who said the promise was a victory for residents who overwhelmingly opposed the project and was proof the Coalition was committed to protecting Mandurah’s environment, local jobs, and unique coastal lifestyle.

“The message from my community has been loud and clear: we are not a doormat for Labor’s radical energy policies. This destructive, ugly, and expensive wind farm is not wanted here,” he said.

“Since the proposal was announced, my office has secured almost 14,500 signatures from people opposing the project for many reasons. Residents are seriously concerned about environmental impacts, potential damage to the marine ecosystem, and the devastating effect on local tourism and property values.

“Only an elected Liberal Coalition Government will stop this reckless project for good.”

Dutton’s office was approached for comment.

Smart Energy Council general manager WA Wilf Johnston said the call to scrap offshore wind came with no credible alternative energy policy for the state.

“Offshore wind works spectacularly well around the world and there’s been extensive planning for it here in the South West,” he said.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien held a town hall meeting on his party’s nuclear energy policy in July.

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