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4w ago

Australia's Energy Policy Divide Dominates Final Stretch of Federal Election

Labor champions renewables while the Coalition proposes nuclear reactors and expanded fossil fuel use, with voters split along generational and gender lines.

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One of the proposed sites for a nuclear power station in Australia -- the shuttered Liddell Power Station on the east coast
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Birds fly over the nuclear power plant of Flamanville, northwestern France, which started 12 years behind schedule

Overview

  • Labor emphasizes its record 35% renewable energy share and ongoing grid expansion as part of its clean energy transition strategy.
  • The Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, has unveiled a $200 billion plan to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050, alongside increased gas and coal use.
  • Australia’s 25-year nuclear ban and state-level prohibitions remain significant legal and regulatory obstacles to the Coalition's nuclear ambitions.
  • CSIRO estimates nuclear power would cost 50% more than renewables and take at least 15 years to deploy, raising questions about feasibility and timing.
  • Generational and gender divides shape public opinion: younger Australians favor renewables, while nuclear support is higher among men and varies widely across polls.