Nuclear probe coming
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An inquiry into nuclear energy has been launched amid rising public debate.
The Albanese government has launched a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear energy, aiming to clarify details around the potential use of nuclear power in Australia.
Led by Dan Repacholi MP, the inquiry seeks expert advice to address growing public and political questions regarding the Coalition's nuclear energy proposal.
The House Select Committee on Nuclear Energy will investigate nuclear power in Australia, including small modular reactors, focusing on deployment timelines, fuel supply, uranium enrichment, waste management, water use, infrastructure, legal frameworks, safety risks, energy mix, land acquisition, costs, and electricity affordability.
The committee includes Labor MPs Repacholi, Graham Perrett, Zaneta Mascarenhas, and Matt Burnell.
It follows claims that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has provided little policy detail on how his plans for nuclear energy would integrate into the existing energy grid, sparking public uncertainty.
“Whether Australians support or oppose nuclear energy, the questions raised by voters show they want more details. The information Australians need to fully understand the proposal is simply not there,” Repacholi said.
Energy expert Tony Wood, from the Grattan Institute, has welcomed the inquiry, calling it a move towards an “adult conversation” about nuclear power.
He said this approach is preferable to the government’s previous dismissal of nuclear energy, given its successful role in other countries' energy systems.
The inquiry will examine key factors, including uranium supply and storage, deployment timelines, environmental impacts, and the economic consequences of nuclear power for electricity prices. Small modular reactors (SMRs), advocated by the Coalition, will also be scrutinised.
While the Coalition is optimistic about the opportunity to showcase the benefits of nuclear energy, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien questioned whether the inquiry was “genuine or disingenuous”, having failed in a bid to have the inquiry’s terms expanded to a focus on deployment, fuel supply, costs, legal frameworks, and compatibility with renewables.
Critics have pointed out that the inquiry's April 2025 deadline may be politically motivated, as it coincides with the federal election period.
Wood described the timeline as “ridiculous and probably intentional”, casting doubt on whether the inquiry will resolve political differences on nuclear energy.
Public submissions will open soon.