Antinuclear

Coalition in ‘overwhelming agreement’ on nuclear future, energy spokesman says

The Coalition has given its biggest clue yet on what its post-election policy will be.

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, 2 Oct 25. news.com.au

Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan has returned from a lengthy fact-finding mission to the US starry-eyed about a “nuclear renaissance taking place”.

Mr Tehan spent much of September touring facilities and meeting with nuclear heavyweights in the US.

His trip overlapped with the release of Australia’s first-ever climate risk assessment and Labor government’s 2035 emissions reduction targets.

His absence drew some criticism but, fronting media for the first time since landing back in the country, Mr Tehan said the knowledge he gained was worth it.

“What I learned was that there is basically a nuclear renaissance taking place in the US,” he told the ABC on Thursday.

There is huge investment going into nuclear.

“There are huge developments that are taking place.

“And everyone that I spoke to was incredibly confident, given the use of AI, given the use of quantum, that they will continue to make rapid developments with nuclear technology which will enable not only the US, but the globe, to provide abundant energy in a form which is emissions neutral.”

He was particularly struck by micro reactors, which are transportable nuclear power sources that typically generate between 1-20MW – or enough energy to power a small community, a military base or an industrial facility………………………………………………………

Mr Tehan’s comments are the strongest indication to date that the opposition may stick to its guns on nuclear despite its heavy defeat at the federal election in May.

The absence of an energy policy has sparked severe tensions within the Coalition and was key to the Nationals’ brief split from the Liberals.

Mr Tehan said he had discussed his findings with his colleagues and that “there is overwhelming agreement on the Coalition side that nuclear needs to be part of our energy mix”. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/coalition-in-overwhelming-agreement-on-nuclear-future-energy-spokesman-says/news-story/00ba65f8cb559f8fcd0e886a783f4703

October 5, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics