Qld nuclear plant plans stymied by state and federal laws

A “rapid analysis” prepared by Premier Steven Miles’s department is set to cast doubt on the federal Coalition’s ability to achieve its ambitious nuclear power policy.

It would take years of unwinding Queensland laws and sending voters to a plebiscite in order for highly expensive nuclear power plants to be established, according to the premier’s department.

A “rapid analysis” prepared by Premier Steven Miles’s department, to be released on Tuesday, is set to cast doubt on the federal Coalition’s ability to achieve its ambitious nuclear-focused power policy.

It comes as federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton travelled to an electorate earmarked for one of the Coalition’s seven nuclear reactors to spruik the policy, promising the project would be more efficient than replacing wind turbines every 25 years.

Premier Steven Miles, leaning on the report’s analysis, will take aim at questions surrounding the amount of water a nuclear power plant uses, warning Brisbane’s drinking water supply would be placed at risk.

The report, prepared in house by bureaucrats at the Department of Premier and Cabinet over the past four weeks, concluded nuclear power was unlikely to be part of the “optimal infrastructure pathway” required to decarbonise Queensland’s energy sector.

Among the barriers were existing state-based laws, which outline Queensland must go to a vote of the people about whether they support the construction of nuclear facility, on top of federal legislation that would need to be wound back.

Premier Steven Miles (right) and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli are both opposed to the federal Coalition’s nuclear plan.

The department also pointed to separate independent research showing the cost of building nuclear power blew out by 204 per cent on average, compared with 200 per cent on the Olympics (which Brisbane is hosting in 2032) and 186 per cent on hydro-electric dams.

Labor insiders have separately for months hinted at a co-ordinated scare campaign aimed at discrediting the state and federal LNP through nuclear policy.

The report by the Department of Premier and Cabinet comes 95 days before a seminal state election that polling reveals will more than likely be won by the LNP Opposition.

“Nuclear is difficult, dangerous and expensive,” Mr Miles said.

“It would cost far more than our existing plan for renewable energy and it would take too long to build, which means Queensland and Australia wouldn’t meet our emissions reductions targets.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has repeatedly affirmed he does not support the nuclear plan of his federal counterparts.

Federal leaders including Mr Dutton and his deputy David Littleproud have also said they will assert their federal powers to make sure states comply with their plan should they win government.

Mr Dutton travelled to Mount Murchison, in the LNP-held federal electorate of Flynn in Queensland, to spruik his nuclear plan on Monday.

It was the first time he had travelled to an impacted electorate since announcing the policy in mid-June.

Mr Dutton said nuclear power would be good for jobs.

Originally published as Qld nuclear plant plans stymied by state and federal laws