Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips is calling on opposition leader Peter Dutton to reveal where he will build risky nuclear reactors.

“What exactly is the opposition’s nuclear plan?” she questioned.

“It’s been 686 days since Peter Dutton said the Coalition would delay reliable renewables and instead go down the nuclear path, but neither him nor Andrew Constance have ruled out a nuclear reactor at Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay.

“They’re stoking unfounded fears about the Illawarra offshore wind zone, creating job insecurity, but what is their energy alternative – a nuclear power plant on our shores?”

Mrs Phillips said nuclear was too expensive, too slow to build, too costly to run and lacked community support.

“Nuclear is unviable. It’s the most expensive form of energy which means higher power prices for business, industry and homes in Gilmore,” she said.

“Dutton has no plans to help everyday Australians – struggling families, seniors and small business owners.

“Let me be clear, Dutton and Constance’s support for nuclear and opposition to offshore wind, means delaying cheaper power prices and the creation of more local jobs.”

Mrs Phillips said, under Peter Dutton, every community in Australia, including our South Coast communities, were a potential site for the Coalition’s reactors.

“Where is he going to build them? We deserve to know where these reactors will go and who will be paying for them.”

She said Andrew Constance’s scare campaign about the Illawarra wind zone was nothing more than hot air and Liberal “snake oil salesman tactics”. 

“Andrew Constance will say anything. He was a Senior Cabinet Minister in the NSW Liberal Government that backed renewables to put downward pressure on power prices,” she said.

“Now he’s done the ultimate backflip and, under Peter Dutton, is backing nuclear - the most expensive form of power, which will push power prices up.  

“Will they build a nuclear power plant at Jervis Bay? - or perhaps they would like to put it near the seaside town of Kiama.”

She said the declaration of an offshore wind zone off the coast of Illawarra was the first crucial step towards providing cleaner, cheaper power for the region.

“We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector this decade, and invest in clean, proven energy technology,” she said.

“We need to produce energy for homes and business for decades to come, what is the alternative – a nuclear power plant on the shores of Jervis Bay?

“I say no and I will always say no to nuclear.”

ENDS:

MEDIA CONTACT: Katrina Condie 0437 662 967