‘Nuclear energy could blow up on taxpayers’, says Labor

Labor has stepped up its efforts to repudiate the Coalition’s plans to build seven taxpayer-funded nuclear power plants, branding the opposition’s energy policy as an ‘unacceptable risk’ to Australian taxpayers.

Labor MP and committee chair Daniel Repacholi.

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

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

Labor has stepped up its efforts to undermine the Coalition’s plans to build seven taxpayer-funded nuclear power plants, branding the opposition’s energy policy an “unacceptable risk” to taxpayers.

The move follows the release of the findings of a Labor-led ­inquiry investigating the ­Coalition’s nuclear plans, including its cost, legal barriers, deployment timeframes, natural disaster risks, waste management and uranium transport.

While devoid of recommendations, the inquiry’s findings were seized upon by Labor MP Dan Repacholi – whose regional NSW seat of Hunter would border one of seven proposed sites earmarked by the Coalition to host nuclear power generation – as evidence of the protracted construction timelines associated with atomic energy.

“The evidence is overwhelming – there is simply no way a ­nuclear power plant could be ­operational in Australia before at least the mid-2040s,” Mr ­Repacholi said, also pointing to cost estimates for nuclear.

“Nuclear power projects worldwide routinely suffer massive cost blowouts, and Australia would be no exception. With estimates exceeding $600bn, it’s clear that nuclear energy would be an enormous burden on Australian taxpayers.”

The Coalition, however, has argued its proposed tilt towards nuclear energy would cost $331bn, claiming its plan would be 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s plan, which is largely reliant on renewable generation.

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien derided the inquiry as “nothing more than a sham” and fully rejected its findings. “Labor’s bogus figures and scare campaigns are complete fabrications – deliberate misinformation designed to scare Australians into submission,” he said.

Despite Mr O’Brien’s criticism, the inquiry has handed the Coalition an opportunity to promote its energy policy with hearings held in the communities slated to host nuclear power.

According to the inquiry’s terms of reference, a final report must be handed down no later than April 30, just weeks prior to the cut-off for the impending federal election, which must be held by May 17 at the latest.

But with shortening odds of an early election, which could be held as soon as April 5, it is unlikely the inquiry will deliver its final recommendations.

The inquiry’s interim findings come amid an escalation in the battle over energy policy, with the opposition suggesting it would dump former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean, now chair of the Climate Change Authority. Mr Kean’s agency on Monday warned the deployment of nuclear would cause Australia to miss its legislated target to cut emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by the end of the decade.