Use your vote in the upcoming federal election to make a better choice.
ANMF supports a renewables future.
Too slow
Climate change is now and time is not on our side. We cannot wait 20+ years for an Australian nuclear experiment. Experts agree the timeline and costings the Coalition have presented are not realistic. We cannot afford decades more of health and planet threatening coal and gas emissions in the interim1Coalition’s nuclear plan will hit Earth with 1.7bn extra tonnes of CO2 before 2050, experts warn, 2Australia’s changing climate: State of the Climate 2024, 3Climate change: World Health Organization.
Too expensive
According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), nuclear power is at least twice as expensive as renewable energy, while the Clean Energy Council estimates it to be six times as expensive!4Dutton’s dangerous nuclear fantasy will cost workers, says ACTU.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that typical Australian households could see electricity bills rise by AUD665/year on average under the opposition Coalition’s plans to introduce nuclear to the country’s energy mix5Nuclear in Australia would increase household power bills.
Not needed
Impressively, business, environmentalists and unions have endorsed a transition pathway that’s already incorporated into the current Federal Government’s plan and work6Australia hits rooftop solar milestone, 7Sunshot: achieving global leadership in clean exports.
Nearly 40% of Australia’s energy is now renewable with funding and projects underway for a target of 82% by 2030. This is in stark contrast to the Coalition position of only achieving a 54% cap on renewables by 2050. In the meantime, states and territories have their own targets. For example, Victoria is steaming ahead on its intention of 95% renewables by 20358A tale of two approaches: How does Victoria’s energy plan differ from the 2024 ISP?. We don’t need nuclear.
Not worth the risk
Nuclear power generation comes with significant community, environment and health risks along its entire life cycle. Radioactive waste can remain dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years9High-Level Waste: United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Storage of this toxic waste is a globally unsolved problem. Sites are vulnerable to radioactivity, terrorism, weapons proliferation, transport, accident and weather disasters.
Neither the owners or the communities were the Coalition plans to build these nuclear plants were consulted, and their plans for the sites have been completely disregarded10Nuclear thuggery: Coalition will not take no for an answer from local communities or site owners; Here’s what we know about the Coalition’s seven planned nuclear power sites.
The alternative
Australia already has a transition plan underway11Future Made in Australia. It takes advantage of our natural resources, sun, wind, minerals, skills, and established trade routes. It uses established technology and has been broadly endorsed by environmental groups, business and unions.
Vote no to nuclear. Vote yes to Australian renewables.
Frequently asked questions
1. What’s the current state?
Our current energy system is failing and needs replacing. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – have been traditional sources of energy in Australia, but they are the largest contributor to climate change, and inconsistent with global commitments for a sustainable future12Causes and Effects of Climate Change.
Ageing coal infrastructure leaves us vulnerable to blackouts.
The climate emergency is driving extreme heatwaves. This leads to extra demand for cooling and energy. Australia’s ageing coal stations are not only polluting, but they also can’t cope with this demand. They are subject to overheating, failure, and are increasingly offline for repair. When they shutdown, the grid blacks out. We saw this in Victoria’s Black Summer when three stations overheated and faulted. In November 2024, one third of NSW’s coal power units were offline during a severe heatwave. Fortunately, NSW had a new super battery and were able to draw on this to provide energy and stabilise the grid. This meant that a mass blackout was avoided13Australia’s newest and biggest battery charged with surprise role in keeping lights on in NSW heatwave, 14A hot mess: summer blackouts and unreliable coal power, explained.
These old stations are being shut down by their owners. We have to do something. But what?
2. What’s proposed?
Voters make an important decision in the next federal election.
The Albanese Federal Labor pathway is a renewable energy plan, utilising technologies available now and being rolled out.
Already today, renewables provide nearly 40% of Australia’s electricity15Clean Energy Australia report. Federal Labor plans to expand on this rapidly with a target of 82% electricity provided by renewables by 2030, while continuing to maintain a strict standard of 99.998% reliability16Australian Energy Market Commission: reliability.
Legislation supporting this has been passed and budget allocated. The plan supporting this is called A Future Made in Australia17Future Made in Australia.
The Dutton Coalition pathway requires another 20+ years of fossil fuel use until nuclear can come online in Australia. They plan to establish nuclear power sites at seven locations – Tarong (QLD), Callide (QLD), Liddell (NSW), Mount Piper (NSW), Port Augusta (SA), Traralgon (VIC), Muja (WA).
3. Are the site owners ok with this?
No. Six of the sites oppose nuclear power and already have their own plans18Here’s what we know about the Coalition’s seven planned nuclear power sites. The Coalition has said that if the owners don’t cooperate, the land can be compulsorily acquired19Dutton’s plan to nuke Australia’s renewable energy transition explained in full.
4. What are the implications for renewables?
Peter Dutton says the Coalition would restrict investment in solar and windfarms20Coalition to impose ‘cap’ on renewable energy investment, Nationals leader says and use coal and gas to cover the electricity shortfall over the next two decades21Power bills could rise by $1,000 a year under Coalition plan to boost gas until nuclear is ready, analysts say. They only plan a 14% increase in renewables supporting the grid by 2050, in contrast to Labor’s 82% target by 2030.
Meanwhile, states have their own plans. For example, Victoria is steaming ahead on its target of 95% renewables by 203522A tale of two approaches: How does Victoria’s energy plan differ from the 2024 ISP?. This is long before Dutton’s nuclear would be available.
5. What are the implications for emissions?
The more fossil fuels we use, the more emissions, pollution and global warming.
The timeline of the Coalitions plan is questioned by experts. The anticipated delays will prolong fossil fuel use, emissions production and increase global warming. Even pro-nuclear advocate Alan Finkel says nuclear cannot realistically be delivered in Australia until the 2040s23Dutton’s plan to nuke Australia’s renewable energy transition explained in full. By the time nuclear plants become operational in the 2040s, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) says that renewable energy could be providing 96% of the country’s electricity .
This isn’t a plan Australia needs, or a carbon load the planet can afford.
Climate Council analysis finds Dutton’s nuclear scheme will produce 1.6 billion tonnes more emissions than Australia’s current plan and cost $250 billion more24Small modular nuclear reactor that was hailed by Coalition as future cancelled due to rising costs. It’s also consistent with a 2.6°C rise in global temperatures by the end of the century25Economic meltdown: Counting the real cost of Peter Dutton’s nuclear fantasy.
6. Isn’t nuclear banned in Australia?
National and state legislation would need to be changed if Australia was to go nuclear.
This includes the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Most Australian states also have legislated bans.
7. What about nuclear medicine and submarines?
Australia has one nuclear reactor in NSW used for nuclear medicine, not nuclear power.
Through AUKUS, Australia is buying 3-5 nuclear-powered submarines. They will produce both low and high level, radioactive waste.
8. Why not build new coal stations?
The burning of coal, oil and gas is the leading cause of climate change so using more fossil fuels will only make this problem worse.
9. What happens when the sun doesn’t shine, and the wind doesn’t blow?
Some sources of renewable energy, like sun and wind, are variable or intermittent. They are optimised by locating them in areas with reliable supply, such as steady offshore wind. Variable energy is often combined with battery storage. Other renewable energies are constant, such as dammed hydroelectricity, bioenergy, tidal, wave, geothermal power.
Firming capacity, which matches supply and demand, can take several forms such as big batteries, pumped hydro energy storage, microgrids, interconnecting transmission lines, hydrogen, and even electric vehicle batteries. It is expected that gas turbines used for some peak demand, could transition to renewable hydrogen for fuel and long-term firming26The glaring gaps and unanswered questions in the Coalition’s nuclear plan and costings.
A changing energy model
Australia’s main grid historically had power flowing in one direction – from power plants to consumers. We use power differently today and renewables create new options. Homes can reduce or even completely remove energy bills from household budgets by generating and storing clean energy onsite. Some hospitals are developing their own local microgrids so they can operate independently of the energy grid, saving millions of dollars27Example: Firming the future: Balancing supply and demand as the energy grid evolves; Making hydrogen while the sun shines.
Today, there is capacity for energy to flow both to and from the grid. This also brings new opportunities. For example, electric vehicles (EV) have been called “batteries on wheels” because one EV battery stores enough energy to power a home for three to seven days. Technology is being developed so that EV’s could either export to the grid when required, or power a home28Local partners launch 100% resilient and renewable energy healthcare campus project; Our sustainability journey. Last year storms damaged transmission towers and EV batteries were used to provide power to the grid29Can electric vehicles be used to power buildings or community shelters?.
Of course, such a transition requires oversight, monitoring and assessment to ensure it is safe, economical, and takes advantage of the best energy options. Each year AEMO and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), bring together the best engineering, economics and science to release the Gencost30GenCost: cost of building Australia’s future electricity needs report. This impartial report contributes to planning our future energy roadmap, market, and physical power system.
10. I’m hearing different stories. Will the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan save or cost me money?
According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), nuclear power is at least twice as expensive as renewable energy, while the Clean Energy Council estimates it to be six times as expensive31GenCost 2023-24; Dutton’s dangerous nuclear fantasy will cost workers, says ACTU!
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that typical Australian households could see electricity bills rise by AUD$665/year on average under the opposition Coalition’s plans to introduce nuclear to the country’s energy mix32Nuclear in Australia would increase household power bills. Their analysis found Coalition modelling unrealistic, underestimated, and containing misleading comparisons33Opposition’s nuclear costings are unrealistic. An issue pointed out in the Coalition costings is that of applying overseas costings to a large scale project in Australia. Australia has very different labour standards. The CSIRO cautions that a ‘first of a kind’ cost premium of up to 100% could not be ruled out.
11. Why do we care?
There are potential health risks throughout the entire life cycle of the nuclear industry. This includes uranium mining and processing, the generation of nuclear power, management of contaminated waste, and risks associated with transport, storage and security.
There is no known absolute safe level of exposure to ionising radiation to avoid health risks, and radioactive waste can remain dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years34High-Level Waste; Wall BF, Kendall GM, Edwards AA, Bouffler S, Muirhead CR, Meara JR, ‘What are the risks from medical X-rays and other low dose radiation?’ The British Journal of Radiology. 2006;79(940):285-94.
The risk of disaster cannot be ruled out, be that from climate impact, transport accident, or intentional action. Even without incident, nuclear reactors leave an expensive generational legacy of radioactive waste.
ANMF, Doctors for the Environment Australia, the Public Health Association of Australia all have positions against nuclear power.
It’s an unnecessary risk, that could derail a sensible speedy transition to renewables that is already underway. We don’t need nuclear. We don’t support nuclear.
12. What’s the alternative?
We already have a transitions plan that is endorsed by business, environmentalists and trade unions, the risks that come with nuclear352023-24 Federal Budget could shape Australia’s future in the global energy transition, 36Future Made in Australia.
Australia’s Future Made in Australia Plan37Future Made in Australia is budgeted for, and underway. It takes advantage of our natural resources, sun, wind, minerals, skills, and established trade routes.
Your vote matters. Vote no to nuclear. Vote yes to Australian renewables.
Authorised L. Fitzpatrick, Secretary, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, 535 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
