Prime Minister Rejects Nuclear, Stands by ‘Cheapest Form of Energy’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says nuclear power is more expensive. Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Coalition’s plans for a nuclear future for Australia are fantasy.

The prime minister has been critical of the plan by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to introduce seven nuclear reactors across the nation, should Mr. Dutton take his job at the next election.

Speaking on the ABC’s Breakfast Radio program, Mr. Albanese remained firm in his stance that renewables are the cheapest form of power.

The leader spoke of a 25 percent increase in renewables since Labor came to power, with record amounts spent on batteries and storage.

“We’ve seen 330,000 additional rooftops have solar panels on them,” Mr. Albanese said.

“Because households recognise that it makes sense for households to reduce their energy bills by having renewable energy. And just as it makes sense for an individual household, it makes sense for our national economy as well.

“That’s why we’ve approved 50 major renewable energy projects right around the country. And we know that it’s the cheapest form of new energy.”

Mr. Albanese said according to the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, renewables were up to eight times cheaper than their alternatives.

He has also expressed concern over a lack of detail in Mr. Dutton’s plan, such as the absence of costings, a definite timeframe or information on what proportion of nuclear will be incorporated into the power system.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also chimed in on the debate, saying on the ABC that the plan was “a risky and expensive gamble that won’t work.”

Labor politicians say renewables are the way of the future and the cheaper option for increasing power needs. SEYLLOU/AFP via Getty Images

She said nuclear reactions would deliver more expensive power following years of public subsidy.

Federal Minister Andrew Leigh also expressed his disapproval of nuclear, taking to social media to post an image of cartoon koala Blinky Bill with three eyes.

“Is this what Peter Dutton wants Blinky to look like in 50 years?” he said.

Mr. Leigh said the Coalition’s plan would prevent the delivery of reliable renewables and clean energy jobs, subject Australia to years of rolling black-outs, and raise taxes to pay for what he says is the most expensive form of energy.

But Mr. Dutton has proposed a full roll-out of the seven reactors by the 2040s, if elected.

He told reporters Labor’s renewables policy was “not fit for purpose.”

“No other country in the world can keep the lights on 24/7 with the renewables-only policy. We need to ensure hospitals can stay on 24/7, we need to ensure that cold rooms can stay on 24/7, we need to make sure that our economy could function 24/7—and we can only do that with a strong baseload power,” he said.