FEDERAL politicians descended on Collie last week with starkly different messages about the viability of nuclear power.
Shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister Ted O'Brien and member for O’Connor Rick Wilson met with Collie Shire Council and community leaders to talk about the Federal Opposition's proposed development of a nuclear power plant at Muja Power Station. Mr O'Brien said it was the start of a “process of thorough community engagement”, and described council as “open-minded” about nuclear power.
“I think the position they are taking is very wise,” he said.
“It is one of being open for discussion. They're not taking a firm position because they want to keep talking about this.”
President Ian Miffling said council was pleased Mr O'Brien visited in person.
“We did say right at the very beginning of this process, when the policy was first announced, that we needed Canberra to come to Collie, and not have some long-distance dialogue,” he said.
“We're very happy to have them along today for preliminary discussions with council.”
Cr Miffling, however, emphasised council has not adopted a formal position at this stage.
“There is a lot of fact gathering going on,” he said.
“We need to be across a lot of detail that still is to come.”
Mr O'Brien and Mr Wilson were joined by colleagues, Nola Marino, the member for Forrest, and Senator Matt O'Sullivan, reflecting the intense interest the proposal has created.
On the other side of the political aisle, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman made his second visit to Collie in a little over a month.
Mr Gorman said a recently released Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering report confirmed small modular reactors (SMRs), of the type proposed for Collie, will only be commercially viable by 2045, and described them as an “unproven technology.”
But Mr O'Brien said the report is not relevant to the Opposition’s policy and inconsistent with the advice it has received.
Mr O'Brien said the Opposition envisages the first electricity generated by SMRs would come to the grid in a 10-year period after any commitment to establish the reactors.
Mr O'Brien said residents are encouraged to ask questions as consultation continues.
“As we've learned from around the world, it's actually the communities which host zero-emissions nuclear power plants that end up being most positive about nuclear energy,” he said.
“That is because they have in their community a multi-billion dollar facility that provides jobs and economic certainty for 80 years or more.”