FED:Gillard talks down nuclear power

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2010
FED:Gillard talks down nuclear power

CANBERRA, Dec 1 AAP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has hosed down a fresh debate about
nuclear power within the Labor party, arguing it is too expensive.

The release of a report on Wednesday by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences
and Engineering has renewed discussion about nuclear power.

The report, which canvasses low-carbon energy options during the coming decades, says
nuclear power could be a viable option once a suitable price is put on carbon.

But the report says Australia would not be ready for nuclear power - which it argues
has a lower fuel price than conventional power plants and no carbon dioxide emissions
- until after 2020.

A number of Labor MPs and senators have seized on the report and want the ALP's national
conference to discuss overturning the party's ban on nuclear power.

Ms Gillard said she welcomed debate but a change of policy was highly improbable.

"In this area of policy I'd have to say anybody who's arguing to overturn our long-standing
policy is setting themselves up for a pretty tough argument," she told Fairfax Radio Network.

"But I'm not going to be there saying to people 'Don't come and put your views'."

Ms Gillard said it remained her view that nuclear power wasn't needed in Australia
because there were other abundant sources of renewable energy.

"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.

"Are Australians prepared to pay ever increasing electricity prices for their home
consumption and their industry consumption?" Senator Hutchins said.

"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."

Australia had inordinate amounts of uranium that could be turned into nuclear power,
Senator Hutchins said.

"Why shouldn't we consider it as an alternative?" he said.

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said while he thought the debate was worthy, he didn't
believe the party's policy would change any time soon.

"I think our policy is strong, our policy you all know, and I'd be surprised if the
national conference chose to change that," he said.

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

"It's certainly too expensive, too environmentally damaging, too dangerous and too
far away to help us with the need to take climate change action," he said.

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

"Where's he going to have his nuclear power stations?" Senator Brown said.

"Let's put a marker on the ground, X marks the spot, and see if the people in that
locality want it."

AAP pjo/rl/nb

KEYWORD: NUCLEAR LABOR UPDATE

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