Nuclear law: Could Australia go nuclear?

Key takeaways

• The Coalition continues to advocate for its plan to introduce nuclear into Australia's energy mix, claiming that it will provide cheaper, cleaner and consistent power. Part of this plan includes the construction of 7 nuclear power plants across the country.
• Australia has legislated prohibitions at commonwealth, state and territory levels against the construction and operation of nuclear plants and installations.
• The House Select Committee on Nuclear Energy recently published an interim report, concluding that nuclear power generation is not a viable option for Australia's energy needs due to the significant deployment time and costs.
• A future Coalition Government must therefore navigate through a series of social, political and economic barriers to bring nuclear energy into the mix.