Australian Government Defends Decision to Opt out of Global Civilian Nuclear Energy Pact

EDF Energy's Sizewell B nuclear power station, in Sizewell, England, on Sept. 1, 2022. Chris Radburn/AFP via Getty Images

The federal government’s decision against joining a pact with allies, including AUKUS partners, to accelerate the development of civilian nuclear energy remained a focal point in Parliament, dominating question time for the second consecutive day.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton sought an explanation from Labor’s Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles on the reasons for Australia’s decision to skip the agreement.

At the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, the UK government said it had “expected” Australia to join an agreement between the UK and United States on civilian nuclear energy collaboration.

Yet the reference to Australia was later removed from the official statement. Despite having the world’s third largest reserves of uranium, Australia does not have active nuclear energy production.

Opposition Leader Pressures Labor

The Opposition’s Dutton highlighted that at the ongoing COP29, six additional nations endorsed the declaration to triple nuclear energy by 2050, joining 25 others, including the United States, the UK, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Japan, and South Korea.

He said that those nations are committed to reducing emissions and delivering energy at a reasonable cost.

“Why is the Albanese government not signing up to the same agreement?” Dutton asked.

Marles reiterated the government’s position, stating that “Australia has no plans to adopt the technology domestically.”

He added that Australia does not have a civil nuclear energy service fund, “and nor do we seek to establish one.”

“The reason is because to do so would be to pursue the single most expensive form of electricity in the world today,” he said.

“That would be an additional $1,200 on the energy bill of every household in this country.”

Renewables vs Nuclear Energy Debate

Marles also dismissed Dutton’s nuclear energy plan, saying, “There would be no prospect of any piece of electricity entering into the grid for two decades.”

“What we’re talking about is at max, 4 percent of the electricity grid being contributed in 20 years … the most expensive form of electricity,” he said.

Instead, Marles pointed out that Australia committed to tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity when it joined 132 other countries in 2023.

“We understand that the cheapest form of electricity in the world today is firm renewable energy, and that is what’s being pursued by countries around the world,” Marles said.

Australia’s abstention from the agreement comes amid growing political tensions between Labor and the Coalition over Australia’s energy future.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, attending the U.N. climate summit in Baku, has strongly opposed nuclear technology, arguing that it would prolong the reliance on coal power until nuclear becomes more widely used, which could take a decade or more.

Conversely, Dutton maintains that nuclear power would diversify Australia’s energy mix, reduce dependence on coal and gas, and position the country as a global leader in clean energy.

MCA Criticises Government’s Nuclear Energy Stance

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has criticised the government for distancing itself from international allies, accusing Labor of “outdated thinking” that puts political concerns before progress.

“These are the same allies we are partnering with on nuclear-powered submarines, yet we’re refusing to join them in adding a zero-emissions technology to our energy mix that could benefit Australia and global decarbonisation efforts,” said MCA chief Tania Constable.

“Even more concerning is the government’s stance that nuclear energy would take too long to develop, while simultaneously ensuring that Australia is excluded from an international forum aimed at accelerating innovation and development.

“This decision ensures that we will fall even further behind the rest of the world.”