FED: Libs must come clean on nuclear power: Wong

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2008
FED: Libs must come clean on nuclear power: Wong

(Eds: Reissuing to correct minister's honorific)



By Carrie Berdon

SYDNEY, Aug 19 AAP - Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has hit out at the
opposition for resurrecting the debate on nuclear power.

Liberal frontbencher Ian Macfarlane wants Australia to include nuclear power in any
future energy mix.

"If we are serious about reducing global greenhouse emissions, the nuclear option is
one we cannot ignore," the Queensland MP will say in a speech in Brisbane tonight.

"It's a black and white answer. Or should I say a black, green and yellow answer," he said.

"Clean coal, renewables and yellowcake - we must include nuclear in our future baseload
clean energy mix."

Macfarlane's comments are the strongest pro-nuclear remarks since former prime minister
John Howard left politics.

Senator Wong has accused the coalition of not being clear with the Australian people.

"What we're seeing yet again is opposition frontbenchers resurrecting the nuclear argument,
resurrecting their plan for 25 nuclear reactors in Australia," she told reporters in Sydney
today.

"Something they didn't tell the Australian people prior to the election, something
they flagged in government and then walked away from when they saw the Australian people
are opposed to nuclear power."

She urged Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson to come clean.

"Are they really saying that they have a plan for 25 nuclear reactors in Australia?

Where are they going to put them?" she said.

"They should come clean with the Australian people about their plans for nuclear power."

Senator Wong said the Rudd government remained firmly opposed to nuclear power.

"Australia has an abundance of renewable energy sources. We have a lot of solar, we
have a lot of wind, we have geothermal resources," she said.

"We have a lot of work to do as a nation that will enable us to tap those.

"We don't believe it's appropriate for Australia to go down the nuclear path."

The Liberals appear to be divided on the issue of nuclear power.

Some coalition frontbenchers believe the issue should remain on the table but Mr Nelson
seemed to shift his position on nuclear power earlier this year.

In February he said there was no plan for nuclear power in Australia.

Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin has also said he does not support the nuclear
option, believing it to be politically unpopular.

In August last year, Mr Howard, as prime minister, said Australia had to consider adding
nuclear power to its energy mix if it was serious about addressing climate change.

AAP cjb/wjf/ht/mn

KEYWORD: NUCLEAR (REISSUING)

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