Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to thank Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for visiting Collie and honouring his commitment to discuss in person the coalition's proposal for a small nuclear reactor to succeed the existing coal-fired Muja Power Station and underpin a balanced energy mix for Western Australia's clean energy future. Mr Dutton had a warm and productive meeting with the Shire of Collie council, answering questions raised on behalf of their community. The night prior, Nuclear for Australia hosted a Collie community information session with over 150 attendees. Nuclear experts Dr Adi Paterson, Associate Professor Tony Irwin and Lieutenant Colonel Jasmin Diab answered over 45 questions and shared their extensive experience in the commissioning and operations of nuclear facilities, addressing the safety record of nuclear and the capacity for Collie's existing workforce to pivot to high-paid jobs in the nuclear industry.

Concurrently, I've been conducting an online and hard-copy survey gauging community sentiment in Collie. Of the 560 responses so far, 67.5 per cent strongly support the coalition's plan to build a zero-emissions nuclear power plant at Collie using the existing site and transmission infrastructure of the Muja Power Station. Given the current 8.2 per cent unemployment rate in Collie, it was unsurprising that 73 per cent of respondents expressed concerns about job prospects post coal. Many recognise that well-paid jobs in a safe, zero-emissions nuclear power plant will provide economic security for their community over its 80- to 100-year lifespan.