Very Strong Support For Nuclear: MP

December 5, 2024

Nationals Leader David Littleproud says the Opposition has already gained the “social licence” in local communities for nuclear power generation and has warned State Premiers to “get out of the way” should a Coalition Government be elected in 2025.

Speaking to TV presenter Jaynie Seal on Sky News on Thursday, Mr Littleproud said the release of the estimated costs to build the nuclear reactors – which includes a proposed facility at Tarong – was “imminent”.

“We will be announcing this very soon, it’s imminent in terms of the costings,” Mr Littleproud said.

“But what we wanted to do … is that we had to gain social licence in the communities in which we determine where these nuclear power plants will go.

“And that’s what we’ve gained, and we’ve been able to go into those communities, educate them and let them understand about the opportunities and the transition that nearly 80 per cent of them that work in a coal-fired power station can transition across into a nuclear power plant.

“So, we’ve built that social licence within those communities and that was the important first step.

“And I think the support within those communities, as we’ve seen in our polling, is still very strong because they’re energy literate – the people that live there, they work in the industry, they understand that we need baseload power and affordable over a longer period of time.”

Mr Littleproud said Australia needed a “sensible” energy transition but said it would take time.

“What we’ve got to do is, in the short term, get a lot of gas into the grid to be able to bring down your bill in the here and now, but in the long term, start the projects around these nuclear power plants,” he said.

“They’re going to take time, but we can get them up with bipartisan support from the States in getting on with the job.”

Quizzed about the likelihood of achieving bipartisan support, Mr Littleproud said if the Coalition was given a mandate to govern at the next Federal Election, politicians should listen to the Australian people.

“We’ve been very clear, this will be one of the key policy areas that we’ll pursue,” he said.

“So, it’s important that State Premiers of all political persuasion get on with the job and get out of our way.

“Now there are Federal powers that we can enact, and we are prepared to do that, but we don’t want to, we shouldn’t have to. I think the Australian people are sick of the political discourse of politicians from different levels of government fighting with another.

“There will be a clear message sent. We’d expect Premiers of all political persuasion to get out of the way and to make and to facilitate a transition quickly. And that’s what we intend to do, that’s the leadership that Peter Dutton and I are going to bring to this country.

“We’re going to get on with the job, we’re going to look you in the eye, tell you what we’re going to promise to do in this country, but we’re going to do it. And we expect everyone to pull in the same direction, that will make our country even greater.”

Related articles:

• Ex-Fire Chief Issues Nuclear Warning
• Nuclear Pros, Cons And Wish Lists
• Nuclear Committee To Visit Nanango
• Councils Back Nuclear, Gas
• MP ‘Very Confident’ About Nuclear
• Nuclear Costs ‘In Due Course’ 
• ‘Social Licence’ Needed For Nuclear 
• Academy Can’t Rule Out SMRs
• Water Claim Labelled ‘Hypocrisy’
• Towns ‘Already Back Nuclear’
• Mayor To Consult Community
• ‘Biggest Investment’ In South Burnett
• Nuclear ‘Would Tick Some Boxes’
• No Plans For Nuclear: LNP
• Boyce Welcomes Nuke Plan
• Reaction To Nuclear Plan
• ACTU Launches Campaign
• Tarong Named As Nuclear Site
• MP Labels Powerlines Claim ‘Myth’
• Nuclear? Wait A Bit Longer: MP
• Nuclear Too Expensive: CSIRO
• Nuclear Sites Still Under Wraps
• Nuclear? No Worries, Says MP
• MP Supports Local Nuke Discussion
• Rally Against ‘Reckless Renewables’
• MP Calls For Renewables ‘Pause’
• Nats Target ‘Reckless Renewables’
• Replace Coal With Nuclear: MP