Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

The biggest barrier to cheaper power in this country is Mr Dutton and the coalition, with the possible exception of one senator—being Senator Canavan. Look, I think that everyone knows that Senator Canavan and I tend to disagree on most things, but at least he has the courage of his conviction being upfront and honest about nuclear power, because he said, 'Nuclear is not going to cut it. We're not serious. We're latching on to nuclear as a silver bullet because it fixes a political issue for us.' And this is the kicker: 'But it ain't the cheapest form of power.' Thank you for your honesty, Senator Canavan. I couldn't have summed up Mr Dutton better myself. We both clearly agree that Mr Dutton will say and do anything to get himself elected, but the reality is that Senator Canavan, Mr Dutton and every coalition member should also come clean about the cuts they plan to make to Medicare, to housing, to pensions and to education to fund their nuclear reactors.