The Liberal and National parties have followed through on their threat to shut down the renewable energy industry and force Australians to pay for the most expensive form of power, nuclear.

Ignoring real world examples in nuclear nations that show reactors take decades to build and can cost close to $100 billion for a single nuclear power plant, Peter Dutton says this is where he’ll sink taxpayers money. 

“Promising Australians a doubling of their power bills in a cost of living crisis is the worst Christmas present ever,” Smart Energy Council Chief Executive John Grimes said.

“In the lead up to Christmas, the Liberal and National Parties are threatening to cancel an industry that employs over 40,000 Australians.”

“Mr Dutton is proposing to slam the brakes on solar and renewables by halting clean energy generation at 54 per cent of our power mix, even though we’re already at 40%, and will be at 50% within two years.”

Smart Energy Council analysis reveals the impact the Liberal and National parties nuclear plan will have on the millions of Australian solar households, who’ll have their power switched off.

“Nuclear reactors cannot be switched off, meaning they continue forcing power into the grid even when solar is literally producing free electricity for 4 million Australians.”

“Nuclear and solar do not mix, and it will be Australians who have to pay the price for that.”

Previous detailed analysis by the Smart Energy Council shows Mr Dutton’s nuclear reactor plan will cost up to $600 billion of taxpayer funds, however today’s policy update from the Coalition reveals that figure could well be conservative. The Opposition’s economists have already had to significantly revise their costings. Every single line of the Coalition’s costings are contestable.

“The renewable energy transition will cost a fraction of the real world cost of nuclear,, is largely being paid for by private capital, and is forming the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable power grid.”

“Meanwhile the Liberal and National parties want to spend $600 billion of taxpayer money on nuclear reactors.” 

“Think how many fully staffed hospitals and schools you could build in each of the seven regions they’re trying to build nuclear reactors,” Mr Grimes said.

“Nuclear is the most expensive, most divisive, and slowest form of energy. Solar and renewables are the cheapest, fastest and most popular form of energy. This really is the worst Christmas present ever.

Media requests: tim@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 972 192