Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bilyk. We take the approach we are taking because it is backed by the best advice from experts at both CSIRO and the market operator. There is, of course, another approach—isn't there, senators—and it's the one taken by those over there, to implement the most expensive form of energy known. That is the policy that is being pursued by those opposite.

An analysis by the Smart Energy Council predicts that the seven nuclear reactors proposed by the coalition would provide 3.7 per cent of Australia's energy mix in 2050 and would cost around $600 billion. We have both CSIRO and the Chief Scientist—that they appointed—saying that the earliest deployment would be in 2050. It is no wonder it took them so long to get this out the door, because this policy just does not stack up. (Time expired)