Coalition’s Ted O’Brien says there’s ‘no reason’ parties will give up nuclear if Peter Dutton loses next election

Ted O’Brien, the Coalition’s leading nuclear crusader, declares the need for the technology won’t change if Peter Dutton loses the next election.

Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Ted O'Brien says the Coalition would prioritise reducing power bills while lowering emissions over time. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / AFP

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The Coalition’s leading nuclear crusader has declared there is “no reason” the Liberal and Nationals parties will give up pursuing the technology if Peter Dutton loses the federal election because the need for zero-emissions nuclear won’t change.

Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said a Coalition government’s No.1 priority would be reducing power bills and keeping the lights on “while lowering emissions over time”, suggesting immediate cost-of-living relief would take precedence over climate action.

The Coalition is vowing to release costings for its nuclear plan by the end of the year but Mr O’Brien was more circumspect on whether the broader energy policy also would be announced in that timeframe.

“We’ll be releasing our policies in due course,” he told The Australian. “The question is, after over two years in government, will Anthony Albanese finally release the economics of his plan or continue to keep them a secret from the Australian people?”

The Australian Energy Market Operator estimates the transition to net zero by 2050 will cost about $122bn, but this figure is disputed by the Coalition, which says it’ll be much higher.

As investors nervously await the federal election amid concerns the uncertainty over Australia’s climate ambition will have a chilling effect on renewable projects, Mr O’Brien refused to say which medium-term emissions reduction targets the Coalition would develop and announce if elected. Neither a 2035 target nor 2040 target were committed to.

Under the Paris Agreement, the government must update Australia’s nationally determined contribution or climate action plan every five years, including emissions reduction targets.

“When it comes to our intentions with future emissions targets to meet international obligations, we’ll have more to say about that in due course,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I see no reason why you would be giving up nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, gas or any technology that might form a part of a policy if you hand on heart believe it is in the national interest.

“The overriding priority of policy has to be to do what is right for the nation and in the national interest. All evidence around the world, including the investigation we have done in the Australian context, points to the need for us to have zero-emissions nuclear energy as part of the mix. I do not see that changing.”

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Coalition should give up nuclear if Mr Dutton lost the election.

But Labor wouldn’t respect the Coalition’s nuclear mandate if Mr Dutton won and, he suggested, neither would the states.

“If they win the election, nuclear is completely unrealistic anyway. It won’t happen,” Mr Bowen said. “I’m not contemplating an election loss.”

He said Labor didn’t have to make a choice between lower power bills or reducing emissions.

“The beauty is that it’s not a choice. I talk about the energy trilemma – emissions reduction, reliability and affordability – and more renewables is the best answer for all three, not just the two,” he said. “They’re both very important. And it’s not like we have to do one or the other, the same levers achieve the same outcome – lower bills and lower emissions.”

While the Australian Workers Union has urged Anthony Albanese to be opened-minded on nuclear, the Electrical Trades Union this week launched a pre-election ad campaign on catch-up TV, YouTube and Meta platforms against the Coalition’s plan to build nuclear reactors in seven locations across Australia, warning it would disrupt the energy transition and “destroy valuable job opportunities”.

The first wave of ads is being played in the Queensland electorates of Capricornia, Flynn, Dickson, Longman and Bonner, held by the Liberal National Party, and Blair, held by Labor.

“Renewables and batteries in Australia are producing so much low-cost energy we are on track to hit climate targets,” ETU national secretary Michael Wright said.

“This will create nearly 100,000 more jobs for electricians by 2050 – so many that we need to rewire our training system to skill up enough people. We are very concerned that a rapid change in direction to high-cost nuclear with decades-long timelines would derail this momentum and rob the next generation of electrical workers of renewable transition opportunities.”