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

My point, Senator Askew, was that there is no feasible plan for a nuclear power industry in Australia. Therefore, why should that policy and Mr Dutton ever be taken seriously? There is no debate to be had.

Almost every scientific expert has said that nuclear energy is not feasible in Australia. The CSIRO, our science and energy experts, have said that nuclear power was more expensive than renewables and would take at least 15 years to develop, including construction. The CSIRO also said that nuclear power does not currently provide the most competitive solution for low-emission electricity in Australia. It would take almost two decades to create an industry and potential power plants. Even if you could make this happen, where would you put the nuclear reactors? The current owners of old and to-be-decommissioned coal-fired power stations have said no to nuclear energy on such sites. My point was: if Mr Dutton can't find anywhere to put a nuclear power plant, we may indeed find that Tasmania will be sent one from a future Liberal government. Nobody in the rest of the country wants them. I say to you, Senator Askew: Tasmania doesn't want one either.

The whole point of my argument was that Mr Dutton's plan is ridiculous. There is no actual plan. There are no costings. There's no practical application plan for the nuclear pipedream, so why should Tasmanians or Australians take Mr Dutton seriously? Australians want leadership, and they are not receiving that—there's no hint of that—from Mr Dutton. What they are getting is leadership from Mr Albanese. What is really interesting is that Senator Askew is sent out to try and have a go at the wicked Senator Polley about nuclear plans. The reality is: if you vote for Bridget Archer, you will get Mr Dutton. No to that, I say.