Modelling used by Chris Bowen on Coalition nuclear plan ‘not credible’, says Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton has defended the Coalition against one of Labor’s strongest attacks on the opposition’s signature energy policy, criticising modelling on a ­nuclear power plan as ‘not credible’.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Tertius Pickard

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

Peter Dutton has defended the Coalition against one of Labor’s strongest attacks on the opposition’s signature energy policy, criticising modelling on a ­nuclear power plan as “not credible”.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen on Thursday argued a nuclear ­energy plan would lead to blackouts and massive gaps in supply and demand, pointing to newly developed departmental analysis that forecasts two scenarios with ­demand-supply gaps of 49 per cent and 18 per cent by 2035.

But the Coalition leader ­defended his plan against Mr Bowen’s criticisms, warning Labor’s current plan to rely on ­renewables would see rolling blackouts and brownouts.

“I just don’t think Chris Bowen’s got credibility, to be honest. No Australian that I’ve met as we go around the country, from any household or from any small business, can say that they’re paying less for their electricity,” he told Channel 9.

“Under this government, the prices keep going up because our renewables-only policy delivers two things: higher prices and uncertainty about energy supply.

“And this is why the energy regulator’s warning that under the ­Albanese government we’re likely to have blackouts and brownouts.”

The departmental analysis came alongside modelling by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, which said power bills would have to increase by about $665 a year to meet the multi-billion-dollar cost of building seven nuclear plants.

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said the full details of the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan, and associated costings, would “certainly” be released by the end of the year.

He added that the modelling released by the Climate Change and Energy Department was “flawed” and had singled out the worst-performing projects to argue the economics of the ­nuclear plan did not stack up.

“(Labor has) basically tried to find the projects which have run over budget, cobbled them ­together and said, aha, that’s the way the economics must work, therefore the economics is bad,” he told 4BC Radio.

 “It’s like choosing the worst possible solar project in the world and saying … based on that ­expensive project, that’s the cost of solar throughout the world.’’

Mr O’Brien said the criticism of the Coalition’s policy “flies in the face of the experience of 32 countries right now that have ­nuclear energy and another 50 countries in the world that are wanting to introduce for the first time”. It is understood teals and Greens campaigners are concerned Mr Dutton’s promise to build up to seven nuclear plants is gaining traction, following polling in some teal seats showing about 40 per cent of voters are open to nuclear as an option, with about 20 per cent opposed.

Wentworth independent Allegra Spender said nuclear power would be a misstep during a ­period critical to Australian ­energy security.

“The next 10 years is what counts for climate and for energy security, and nuclear simply cannot deliver in that time frame,” she said on social media.

“This is not about being ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ particular technologies. It’s about basing energy policy on the facts … We can remain open to the possibility that new technologies may develop … but that doesn’t mean we should bet the house on them and ignore the evidence of what works today.”

The statement marks the latest divergence in views between the teals and Coalition, with Mr Dutton this week ruling out forming a minority government with the ­independent MPs.