The Coalition’s controversial nuclear proposal will rely on increasing gas usage by five times annual production, boosting carbon emissions by 325 million tonnes and costing $70 billion, according to Federal Government analysis.
Peter Dutton announced earlier this year that, if elected, the Coalition plans to build seven publicly funded nuclear plants around Australia (including one slated for Muswellbrook), halting the burgeoning renewables industry and costing taxpayers up to half a trillion dollars.
The plan relies on drastically expanding gas usage to address the energy shortfall as coal plants retire, while offering generous subsidies to the gas industry.
Gas is the most expensive form of power on the national grid, and an Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis report has found the proposal could increase power costs for households by up to 3.8 times.
Former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, confirmed increasing reliance on gas would push up prices.
"If you replace aging coal-fired power stations with gas to do the sort of job that coal-fired power stations have been doing, then unquestionably, you're going to see power prices increase," he said.
Undeniably, the Coalition’s nuclear proposal is a bad-faith energy policy, part of their broader siege to halt a just energy transition and shut down renewable energy projects like Hunter Offshore Wind.
The proposal unconscionably fails to address the needs of workers and their regional communities who face significant job losses and economic devastation as coal is retired.
Instead, it threatens the establishment of a prosperous renewables industry along with tens of thousands of secure, well-paid jobs in the Hunter region.
