Tehan rules out Anglesea nuclear plant

WANNON Liberal federal member Dan Tehan has ruled out Anglesea as a site for a nuclear power plant ahead of the official launch of the Coalition’s nuclear policy.

While Mr Tehan supports a robust nuclear policy, he does not support having such a plant in his electorate, which stretches along the Victorian coast from Anglesea to the South Australian border.

“Anglesea was ruled out last year in October,” Mr Tehan said.

Mr Tehan said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made the decision in part because the Anglesea coal mine, which closed in 2015, had no transmission infrastructure.

Mr Dutton’s office issued a statement saying reports of Anglesa nuclear plant were incorrect.

The statement took issue with a radio story that reported that the Surf Coast could be home to a nuclear power station under a Peter Dutton led coalition government.

“There is no substance to Geelong Broadcaster’s online story,” the statement read.

“The former Anglesea coal mine, which closed in 2015, has no transmission infrastructure.”

“Attempts to suggest the Coalition has any sort of nuclear plan are irresponsible and incorrect.”

The comments come a month after Nationals leader David Littleproud used the collapse of six transmission towers near Geelong to argue for a re-evaluation of nuclear power.

Mr Littleproud cited the fragility of the nation’s power grid and said nuclear power stations at the site of existing coal-fired power stations would minimise risk.

Mr Tehan said there were many benefits to building small-scale nuclear power stations, and the Coalition’s nuclear policy would be announced in the coming weeks.

“What we see the benefits of Australia considering low emissions nuclear technology is that it enables renewables to be part of our energy mix going forward and provides an option for secure low-cost energy as we seek to achieve net zero by 2050.”

Mr Tehan said South Australia was the preferred option for a nuclear waste site.

“What we were looking at when we were in government was a facility in Kimba in South Australia.

“As part of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, Australia has made a guarantee to the United States and to the United Kingdom that we will have a full life cycle, we will enable full life cycle disposal of uranium waste in Australia.

“As part of that process, we believe that we should be looking to enable us to secure not only the full lifecycle waste from nuclear submarines, but also options for nuclear waste storage for Lucas Heights, and then any other potential future nuclear waste which may potentially come from the use of small modular nuclear reactors.”

Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker has previously rejected nuclear power on the Surf Coast and elsewhere.