Victoria’s Latrobe Valley open to nuclear — if Peter Dutton can sell his plan

Latrobe mayor invites Peter Dutton to the valley to convince locals that flicking the nuclear switch is the right call.

Loy Yang in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley is one of the proposed sites for a nuclear power plant. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Darren Howe has called the Latrobe Valley home for half a century and reckons locals could support a nuclear power station — if Peter Dutton provides them with enough information.

The Latrobe City Council mayor has invited the federal Opposition Leader to the region’s towns, which include Morwell and Traralgon, to sell his plan to build one of seven nuclear plants at nearby Loy Yang to the community.

“Absolutely, looking forward to it,” Cr Howe said when asked if he would like Mr Dutton to visit the Latrobe Valley which sits about 150km east of Melbourne and detail his policy.

Cr Howe said it was too early for the council to have a position on the nuclear proposal but he has left the way open to supporting it.

“What the council’s position is .... is whatever the mix is for future energy, that we’re front and centre,” he told The Australian.

“We have been the powerhouse of Victoria for a hundred years, let’s continue to do that, regardless of what that power source is.

“It could be hydrogen, it could be nuclear, it could be wind. We have got the expertise, we have got the heavy industry background. Let’s ensure it stays in Latrobe so in fifty years we can still be known as the powerhouse.”

Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Howe said the Latrobe Valley’s traditional three remaining power stations in Loy Yang and Yallourn, which directly employ about 1200 locals, were all due to close in 2035.

While the local council didn’t shut the door on a nuclear power plant, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan slammed it shut and Liberal leader John Pesutto failed to explicitly back the plan.

Ms Allan lashed Mr Dutton’s proposal warning it would bring “more expensive, more risky, more toxic energy solutions to the people of this country”.

“We won’t stand for that. We absolutely will not stand for that … it is unfathomable,” she said.

Mr Pesutto wouldn’t go any further than committing his party to adopting a position ahead of the 2026 Victorian election. “The Federal Opposition has announced this policy just today,” he said, “so I anticipate there will be a long and detailed discussion involving all Australians, in particular for our purposes here in Victoria, the people of Gippsland”.

“Myself, I’ll be involved, my colleagues will be involved in that national discussion, but I think we just have to understand that methodically there are a number of steps that need to be passed before all of this unfolds,” he said.

Cr Howe said the Latrobe Valley had a proud history of supporting heavy industry but winning over the younger generation would be key to Mr Dutton selling his nuclear plans.

“Traditionally there has been a social license for our power stations, for our paper mill and for heavy industry in general,” he said.

“But it’s the young generation, they're going to have a big say on what is going to happen in the future, so it is really important to get the information to the community.”