Peter Dutton calls for ‘mature debate’ over nuclear energy

Peter Dutton has urged Labour to consider nuclear energy and accused the government of being divided over their strategy on the issue.

Peter Dutton has called for “mature debate” over nuclear energy at the Victorian Liberals state council meeting. Picture: AFP.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has made a strong call for nuclear power and said the Albanese government needed to have a “mature debate” about making nuclear energy “part of our energy mix into the future”.

Addressing the Victorian Liberals’ state council meeting on Saturday, Mr Dutton also accused Labor of being divided over their energy strategy.

“We need to have a mature debate in our country about energy and the reason that the Labor Party won’t have this debate is because they know that internally,” Mr Dutton told local members at Moonee Ponds ahead of a vote on a range of positions.

“As we saw recently at the Labor conference, they don’t have a position of unity in relation to this technology.”

In 2022, the Australian government legislated greenhouse gas emissions targets to reach net zero by 2050, with a 43 per cent reduction set by 2030.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton said the Albanese government had “discarded” helping families and businesses through difficult times in favour of “arriving at a solution that is to the benefit of the broader Labor movement.”

He also reaffirmed the Opposition‘s commitment to small businesses and the labour market.

“Our party is today the party of the workers, we are the party of small businesses,” he said.

Mr Dutton said there was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to demonstrate to the Australian public that he has their backs.

“That he’s going to act in our national interest instead of the Labor Party‘s self-interest and I think it’s in relation to the debate on nuclear power,” he said.

“Now we as a party have taken a position,” he said.

It comes as Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s $387bn nuclear costs were floated in parliament as Labor continues to look to the target of zero emissions by 2050 with their current energy mix.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen Photo: Supplied

The Coalition proposed earlier this year an idea to convert existing coal-fired power sites into small modular reactors.

Along with the private sector, including BHP and other miners, Mr Dutton wants barriers and prohibitions on nuclear removed.

“Young Australians are very much in favour because they will read on the topic. They understand the latest technology, the zero emissions, the capacity it has to work within our system,” he said.

Phillip Davis was reportedly elected as the Liberal party’s next state president, after beating out federal party-vice president Caroline Inge on Saturday.

Mr Davis, the former member for Eastern Victoria won by just 11 votes, Sky News reports. Mr Davis and current Liberal Party’s federal vice-president Caroline Inge were both challenging for the top job.

Mr Dutton told members at the meeting the party must present a united front to stand a chance with Victorian voters.