Senator Perin Davey
Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Shadow Minister for Water
Shadow Minister for Emergency Management
Senator for New South Wales
Ted O’Brien MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability and Reliability
Member for Fairfax
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Labor has questioned the impact the Liberal and Nationals coal to nuclear strategy will have on regional water security by posing the very same questions people ask about the Albanese Government’s hapless water buyback program.
The Albanese Government has repeatedly claimed that removing thousands of gigalitres, equivalent to over six and a half Sydney Harbours of productive water, would have little impact on the social and economic viability of irrigation-reliant Murray-Darling Basin communities. Yet, the same government now argues that water used for nuclear power plants, which require similar amounts of water as existing coal power stations, will be a major issue.
“Tanya Plibersek needs to answer her own questions with regards to water buybacks and how their plans to purchase more than 500GL water from the Murray Darling Basin will impact communities and farmers,” Shadow Water Minister, Perin Davey said.
“How can Minister Plibersek’s supposed concerns be taken seriously when she has no concern about taking water away from other water users herself.”
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O’Brien said the figures being pushed by Labor have zero credibility and is a pathetic attempt to deflect from new reports on their failed all-eggs-in-one-basket ‘renewables-only’ policy.
“Modern nuclear plants have different cooling systems including wet systems which use water, dry systems which don’t use water, along with other emerging designs which use other innovative systems,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Given the nuclear technology for Australia is yet to be selected, this claim by Labor is completely flawed.”
“The Coalition has been clear that water security for communities and food production will be a priority in the comprehensive site characterisation studies at each location.”
“Labor’s fact-free ideological attack on the Coalition’s ‘coal to nuclear’ strategy comes as the Clean Energy Council releases a new report confirming Labor is running at less than half pace to achieve its 82% renewables target. They’ve come out with a bogus attack on our policy to deflect from evidence about their failing policy.
“The Coalition has carefully designed its coal to nuclear strategy to leverage existing infrastructure, including water, transmission lines and local workforces which is a big reason as to why independent experts have confirmed our plan will be 44% cheaper than Labor’s ‘renewables only’ policy.
ENDS