Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. President Biden has declared nuclear power America's biggest source of clean energy, and last week the US Congress overwhelmingly backed a bill to cut red tape and accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants across the country. Why is the Albanese government risking the lights going out in Australia instead of using nuclear energy, which is proven around the world to deliver cheaper, cleaner and more consistent energy?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right, I couldn't hear that question. The deputy leader will be given the courtesy of asking her question in silence. If I'm going to make decisions about the answers, I have to hear the question.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. President Biden has declared nuclear power America's biggest source of clean energy, and last week the US Congress overwhelmingly backed a bill to cut red tape and accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants across the country. Why is the Albanese government risking the lights going out in Australia instead of using nuclear, which is proven around the world to deliver cheaper, cleaner and more consistent energy?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for her question. She asked about international experience as if all nations are the same, but here in Australia we have different comparative advantages. That's why every single analysis has shown—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition! We've had the question; we're going to hear the answer.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that the cheapest form of new energy here in Australia is renewables. That's why, when it comes to nuclear, those opposite have had to go and say: 'Forget about our support for private enterprise; forget about our support for markets—we're going to have a command economy system. We're going to nationalise the energy system.' Why are they saying that? Because not a single bank, not a single financial institution, will finance a nuclear reactor in Australia.

That's why the Leader of the Opposition himself said just last year that he didn't support large-scale nuclear reactors. He was opposed to them. That's what I assume they all said in the 22 different plans that they handed down when they were in government, without one of them being pro nuclear. Of course, it was the hero of those opposite, John Howard, who went out there and legislated for a nuclear reactor ban here in Australia—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Petrie.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

something I assume the current Leader of the Opposition voted for when it came in.

I'm asked about international advantages, and the Leader of the Opposition has enthusiastically promoted US based company NuScale's small reactor technology. But last November this poster child of the opposition collapsed because of rising costs, taking with it $600 million of American taxpayers' money.

In a speech to the Institute of Public Affairs in July last year, the Leader of the Opposition told his audience that, as part of a nuclear renaissance, France would shortly commence testing on a nuclear power plant in Flamanville. The Leader of the Opposition forgot to mention that the plant is now more than a decade overdue, with the final cost—$22.3 billion—being more than four times the original estimate, and that's if it actually starts this year.

In November, the shadow minister for energy said on radio that nuclear in the UK is ramping up further and further. Britain's flagship Hinkley Point C nuclear plant was initially due to be operational in 2017 and now it's going to cost— (Time expired)