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All the Australian towns where Peter Dutton will install nuclear power plants - and they'll be up and running sooner than you think if he wins the election

3 months ago 23

By Brittany Chain, Political Correspondent For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:18 BST, 19 June 2024 | Updated: 00:53 BST, 19 June 2024

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Peter Dutton's grand ambitions for Australia's nuclear future are set to be announced on Wednesday amid ongoing pressure for him to release more details.

As Labor argues Mr Dutton's plan amounts to a 'stupendous act of economic self-sabotage', the Opposition Leader has steamed forward with the proposal and will make his pitch to the Australian public at 10am. 

Coalition MPs were briefed on the plan at 8.30am and details have already started to trickle out - with seven sites across Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia identified as potential targets.

Mr Dutton hopes to have the first plant up and running by 2035 and the second just two years later. 

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog as Mr Dutton reveals new details about Australia's nuclear future - if he becomes Prime Minister at the next election. 

Aussie towns which could go nuclear: New details of proposal begin to trickle out

In spite of Mr Dutton's best efforts, reported details of his nuclear proposal are starting to trickle out.

NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are all earmarked for nuclear reactor sites if the Coalition wins the next election.

It's understood Lithgow and the Hunter Valley are the proposed NSW sites, Mount Murchison and Tarong in Queensland and Traralgon in Victoria.

Mr Dutton proposes one site in South Australia in Port Augusta, and another in Collie in WA.

He hopes to have at least two up and running by 2037, with the first set to be established in 2035 - 11 years away.

All of the sites which have been identified are within Coalition-held seats.

Coalition MPs briefed on highly-secretive nuclear plan

Peter Dutton has reportedly briefed the MPs whose electorates will be impacted by nuclear sites if the Coalition wins the next election.

But the wider party is reportedly also in the dark over exact locations in an effort to avoid any leaks ahead of the highly anticipated announcement.

Mr Dutton is expected to announce several of these key sites at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

It is understood Mr Dutton plans for nuclear reactors to be commonwealth owned and operated.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton speaks to media during a press conference in Sydney, Thursday, June 13, 2024. (AAP Image/BIANCA DE MARCHI) NO ARCHIVING

'Trainwreck': Sussan Ley slams Labor's energy policy and notes 'we are paying the highest electricity prices in the world'

Sussan Ley appeared on Sky on Wednesday morning where she promoted the impending nuclear energy announcement.

'Let's face it, policy in this country around energy under this government is an absolute trainwreck.

'We are paying the highest electricity prices in the world. You've just noted on your program, that today is the coldest day so far this year.

'There will be Australians who are choosing between heating and eating.'

Climate warrior businessman Simon Holmes à Court's blunt questions he says Dutton must answer about nuclear

Climate warrior Simon Holmes à Court has issued a series of 18 questions he says Mr Dutton must answer if he wants the Australian public to support nuclear energy.

Mr Holmes à Court has a ­Climate 200 fund which backed the 'Teal' independents in the last election - many of whom snatched previously safe Liberal seats in affluent parts of Sydney.

He wants to know:

- Where nuclear reactors will be located

- How the Coalition intends to remove state bans given nuclear is currently banned in Victoria, NSW and Queensland

- What will happen if locals object

- When will the reactors begin generating power

- How much will they cost

- How will the waste be managed

- Who will provide disaster insurance

- What will be the emissions impact

He said: 'Without good answers to the questions above, the Coalition cannot be taken seriously.

'Any plan that has us paying more and blowing our carbon budget is a toxic joke.'

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court poses for a photograph to launch his new book 'The Big Teal' in Melbourne, Friday, September 30, 2022. (AAP Image/Morgan Hancock) NO ARCHIVING 13528823

Announcement to be made at 10am

Peter Dutton will hold a joint press conference at 10am to make his pitch to the Australian public.

It is understood he'll be joined by Nationals leader David Littleproud, and Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley.

Labor comes out swinging against nuclear

Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday trashed Mr Dutton's nuclear ambitions, describing it as 'economic insanity, pure and simple'.

Dr Chalmers told ABC Radio: 'Nuclear takes longer, it costs more, and it will squander Australia’s unique combination of advantages. It is the worst combination of economic and ideological stupidity.'

Key Updates

  • Aussie towns which could go nuclear: New details of proposal begin to trickle out

  • Coalition MPs briefed on highly-secretive nuclear plan

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