Premier vows to hold vote on Coalition nuclear power plan ahead of federal election

Queenslanders will be asked to vote in a plebiscite on nuclear energy at the next federal election if Labor Premier Steven Miles is re-elected. 

The premier believes a separate vote on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposals can be held at the same time as the federal poll.

“I’ve said I’ll comply with the law,” the premier told reporters alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday.

“The law bans nuclear in Queensland but also requires the minister to hold a plebiscite as soon as they reasonably believe that the Australian government intends to build a nuclear reactor.

“Peter Dutton said the first step to get nuclear reactors in Queensland is to elect David Crisafulli – they were his words – and that means that the first step to blocking Peter Dutton’s plan for nuclear reactors is to elect me in October.”

Albanese labelled the federal coalition’s nuclear energy goals a “fantasy”.

“They don’t have a proper plan here, and it’s no wonder that they should be held to account for it,” he said. 

Dutton has promised to build seven nuclear plants across Australia if the coalition wins next year’s federal election.

Two of those proposed sites are in Queensland at existing power plants in Tarong and Callide.

Dutton has previously vowed to override states who refuse to adopt the energy plan.

But Queensland state law forbids the construction and operation of nuclear reactors and other facilities under the Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Act.

LNP leader David Crisafulli, who is on track to lead the opposition to power, stands firmly against the proposal.

Political analyst John Mickel said Labor would use nuclear’s high costs and dependency on water to woo regional voters, if the plebiscite goes ahead.

“What Labor would be trying to do there is bring that issue to the fore,” he told AAP.

Plans to build nuclear plants could cost up to $600 billion and the coalition said nuclear reactors could be online by 2037.

Source: AAP