FED:Nuclear debate hots up in ALP

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2010
FED:Nuclear debate hots up in ALP

By Paul Osborne, Senior Political Writer

CANBERRA, Dec 1 AAP - A new report showing nuclear power could become financially viable
in Australia within 20 years has reignited debate in the ALP over the party's nuclear
ban.

But Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan have been quick to play down
the chances of Labor changing its policy at next year's national conference.

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering report, which canvasses
low-carbon energy options, says nuclear power could be a viable option after the government
reaches an agreement on a carbon price mechanism.

Report author Dr John Burgess said nuclear power had two key benefits - it produced
continuous output and had no carbon emissions.

"So compared to some of the other technologies it looks quite favourable financially
at that time when the carbon price is climbing up to $80 a tonne in about 2030," Dr Burgess
told ABC radio.

A number of Labor MPs and senators have seized on the report and want the ALP's national
conference to overturn the ban.

Ms Gillard said she remained opposed to nuclear power, adding anyone who would argue
to scrap Labor's long-standing policy "is setting themselves up for a pretty tough argument".

"In this country ... nuclear power doesn't stack up as an economically efficient source
of power for our nation," she said.

NSW Labor powerbroker Steve Hutchins said the party should keep an open mind on the issue.

"I would think people would ask us to consider all forms of alternative energy to make
sure that we can continue to turn on our lights and make sure we have industry to work
at," he said.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said nuclear power was too expensive and would be
damaging to the environment.

He challenged Senator Hutchins to nominate proposed locations for a nuclear power plant
in his home state of NSW.

Treasurer Wayne Swan told reporters in Canberra he did not think nuclear power would
be viable even if a price were put on carbon.

"I'm not a great supporter of it at all - never have been," he said.

He said Australia had an "incredible supply" of traditional energy sources, such as
coal and gas, and renewable energy.

Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said having a debate at the party conference would
be "healthy" for the ALP.

But he said nuclear power remained commercially unviable.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has argued nuclear power is part of the solution to global
warming and makes sense given that Australia has 40 per cent of the world's readily exploitable
reserves of uranium.

He said Labor was set to tear itself apart with factional infighting over the issue.

"I think it's very interesting that just as the left of the Labor party have put gay
marriage on the agenda for Labor's conference next year, elements of the right of the
Labor Party have now hit back by putting nuclear power up on the agenda," he told journalists
in Sydney.

Asked by reporters on Wednesday about the coalition's current view on nuclear power,
opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said: "We don't have a philosophical objection
to it."

Meanwhile, the preliminary results of a survey of 1,175 people on climate change found
28 per cent in favour of nuclear power, 30 per cent opposed and 30 per cent unsure.

The Macquarie University study also found 56 per cent of people needed more information
to make a decision.

It cited the top three ways to tackle climate change as expanding use of renewable
energy, making better use of energy-efficient technology, and reducing energy consumption.

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KEYWORD: NUCLEAR LABOR WRAP

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