Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I can confirm that the Australian government will not be signing that agreement. For Australia, pursuing a path of nuclear energy would represent pursuing the single most expensive electricity option on the planet. For Australia, pursuing a path of nuclear energy would be pursuing a path which would see $1,200 added to the household energy bill of each household in this country. For Australia, pursuing nuclear energy would be pursuing a path which wouldn't see any new electricity into our grid for 20 years. For Australia, pursuing a path of nuclear energy would be pursuing a path which would only see, at best, four per cent contributed to the electricity grid two decades from now. Because we do not have a civil nuclear industry, this agreement does not apply to us, pure and simple.

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