Deputy leader confident nuclear will be part of Coalition's energy policy
Ted O'Brien says he is confident nuclear will be a part of the Coalition's future power policy. (Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)
In short:
The federal shadow energy minister and shadow treasurer are adamant nuclear energy will form part of the Coalition's future energy policy, though their leader has been less bullish.
Energy analyst Tony Wood says nuclear energy could work in Australia but the uncertainty caused by the lack of bipartisanship threatens to drive up power prices.
What's next?
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O'Brien says the Coalition's energy policy is still in the works and more details will be shared once it is cemented.
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O'Brien says he is "supremely confident" nuclear will be part of the Coalition's future vision for Australia's energy mix.
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan made similar comments this week, signposting the resurrection of the Coalition's nuclear policy after touring US nuclear facilities.
His predecessor, Mr O'Brien, was a key figure in the Coalition's nuclear pitch at the last federal election — a policy some political pundits said contributed to their resounding loss.
Now Liberal deputy, Mr O'Brien said he was committed to giving it another go.
"As coal departs from the grids across the country, we do need a form of base-load power," he told ABC South West WA.
"The party room is yet to get into the details but I'm supremely confident nuclear will form a part of that. Why? Because it's in our national interest."
Member for Forrest Ben Small and Ted O'Brien discuss Australia's energy future with ABC South West. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
Mr O'Brien said the Coalition was yet to settle on the details of its new nuclear policy, including whether it would be government-funded or private sector-led.
Some commentators have speculated that the Coalition may look at narrowing its aspirations to focus on lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy, which has been in place since the late 1990s.
Mr O'Brien would not confirm whether the seven locations proposed to host nuclear reactors would still play a role.
But he maintains people in those regions, including Collie, 190 kilometres south of Perth, were "very open" to the idea.
On a two-party preferred basis, all four of Collie's polling booths recorded a swing towards the Liberals, which Mr O'Brien said indicated local support for the Coalition's energy policy.
However, he conceded that on a multi-party basis, there was a swing away from both major parties towards minor parties, such as One Nation and Legalise Cannabis.
Ted O'Brien speaks with Shire of Collie politicians during a parliamentary nuclear inquiry late last year. (ABC South West: Bridget McArthur)
Party leader less bullish
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, also in WA at the moment, was less clear-cut on whether nuclear would play a role in the Coalition's energy policy.
Asked about her colleagues' comments at a press conference today, she said Mr Tehan would brief the party and policy teams next week on his US tour, where he had been specifically looking at developments in small modular reactors.
Sussan Ley (middle) at Rio Tinto's Parker Point operations in Dampier during a visit to WA. (ABC Pilbara: Charlie McLean)
"We know that 19 out of 20 OECD countries … have either adopted or are in the process of adopting nuclear," she said.
"It's very important for the future, and we'll continue to examine it closely."
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Opposition's pro-nuclear stance was out of touch.
"Ted O'Brien masterminded the nuclear policy that was so comprehensively rejected by the Australian people just a few months ago," he said.
"Now he says he is 'supremely confident' that his nuclear policy is right.
"It shows just how arrogant this LNP is — they just don't get it."
Analyst says energy indecision costs
Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood said nuclear energy warranted serious consideration.
However, he said a lack of bipartisanship around the future of energy could ultimately prove worse for electricity prices.
"When you've got different possible futures with different political parties, investors have to build more risk premiums into their decisions," he said.
"That means the cost of everything goes up."
Mr Wood said uncertainty could make the nation less attractive to the private energy sector.
"What [investors] want is clear and predictable policy," he said.
Tony Wood says uncertainty around Australia's energy priorities could drive up power prices. (ABC News: Patrick Stone)
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) national secretary Michael Wright said workers in regional communities, such as the coal mining town of Collie, were also seeking clarity.
"When Peter Dutton was spruiking nuclear, we saw projects put on hold and jobs put on hold while developers waited to see which way the election went," Mr Wright said.
"Now those jobs, for the most part, are back on. This sort of irresponsible attitude to the core business of powering our country costs jobs and jeopardises our grid. It's just irresponsible and immature."
Electrical Trades Union organiser Simon Brezovnik speaks at a nuclear parliamentary inquiry hearing in Collie. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
Mr Wright said he was not ideologically opposed to nuclear but believed the infrastructure simply would not be ready in time to meet demand.
He said renewable projects had not been without their own challenges, with planning and regulatory approvals continuing to hold up work.
But he said it was time for Australia to pick an energy policy and stick to it.