Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to talk about energy policy and the Albanese government's plans for a renewable future compared to Mr Dutton's reckless, uncosted and, frankly, unfathomable nuclear pipedream of a policy. Tasmania has a proud renewable history. As I've said in this place before, we have a plan for a new offshore wind zone in the Bass Strait off Tasmania's north coast which has the potential to unlock secure regional job opportunities and clean, cheaper energy for Tasmanians. It is an exciting opportunity for jobs, education, training and cheaper power bills through renewable energy.

The world is already decarbonising, and Australia will benefit from this by joining with the rest of the world and investing in jobs of the future—a renewable future at that. My home state of Tasmania is a place of opportunity, and we need to ensure that every Tasmanian understands this sentiment—understands that our clean, green image serves our state for the better. This project is clean, green and job ready.

In stark contrast, as I have been saying for some time, we have a nuclear pipedream from those opposite. Has Mr Peter Dutton's nuclear plan been costed? No. Do they have a nuclear industry in Australia? No. Do we know where their nuclear power stations will be located? No. Are those opposite aware that one in three Australians have said no to a nuclear power plant in their neighbourhood? They don't seem to understand that. What do you do with the said nuclear waste? Those opposite have no idea.

Very recently, I wrote an op-ed about our energy plan versus the 23 failed energy policies of those opposite and critiqued Mr Dutton's energy plan. Admittedly, I did use some hyperbole to get my point across, but I think Senator Askew missed my point altogether.