¶ A FEDERAL parliamentary inquiry was told nuclear power is incompatible with Collie’s Just Transition at a public hearing on Monday.
The Inquiry into Nuclear Power Generation in Australia, which has been staging hearings around the country, touched down in Collie to canvas the opinions of residents and industry.
The hearing came after the Federal Coalition’s release of a report into nuclear costings for the National Electricity Market last Friday.
The report did not address Collie or the small modular reactor technology proposed to integrate with the South West Interconnected System, although indicated its conclusions could be applied to WA.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) state secretary Steve McCartney told the inquiry a lot of hard work has gone into Collie’s transition and planning for a post-coal, renewables-focused future.
Mr McCartney described the nuclear proposal as “disruptive”, and said it could undermine investment in the transition.
He said green manufacturing opportunities need to be taken now, rather than rolling out nuclear 20 years in the future.
Muja Power Station contractor transition coordinator and AMWU delegate Daniel Graham also expressed concerns about how nuclear would align with the transition. 
“Looking at the nuclear timeline, I’m just not sure how that matches up and how that’s going to help Collie,” Mr Graham said.
“I think we need to be looking at new industries and manufacturing.
“If we don’t get the timing right, people are going to go and the town is going to suffer.”
Traditional Owner and Elder Phil Ugle Snr said Traditional Owners had not been directly consulted about the proposal.
“I have been informed by the Elders of this town, so I speak for myself and them, and it’s just simple - no,” Mr Ugle said.
“I don’t care what government you’re in, what background you come from, we don’t want it.”
Another hearing was staged in Perth on Tuesday.
A final report is due to be presented by the end of April next year.