Queensland Premier Steven Miles says he will hold a state plebiscite on the Coalition’s nuclear power plan if he is re-elected at the upcoming October 26 state election.
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Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton has proposed a rollout of seven Commonwealth-owned nuclear power stations, including two in Queensland, despite nuclear power being banned in Australia since 1998.
Queensland’s Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Act 2007 also bans grid connections, development applications or generating authority to any nuclear facility.
The law requires a plebiscite if “satisfied the government of the commonwealth has taken, or is likely to, take any step supporting or allowing the construction of a prohibited nuclear facility in Queensland”.
“The law of Queensland requires a plebiscite if it looks like the Australian government’s going to try to build a nuclear facility,” Miles said.
“I’ve said that I’ll do everything I can to stand in the way of the most expensive option, that includes letting Queenslanders have their say.
“Obviously, if I’ve won the election, they’ll have had their say, that will be a mandate for my position, which is for the cheaper option of storing renewables using pumped hydro.
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“But also the LNP leader claims he’s not going to change the law either, and so I assume that means he intends to hold a plebiscite as well. [It will] be interesting to see which side he campaigns on for that.”
