¶ LABOR and the Coalition have sparred over the prospect of a nuclear power plant in Collie ahead of Saturday’s federal election.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese toured Synergy’s Collie Battery Energy Storage System last week, marking the energy provider’s completion of installation works at the project.
Mr Albanese used the occasion to pour scorn on the Coalition’s proposal to develop a small modular reactor in Collie.
He said Coalition leader Peter Dutton “hasn't been near” any of the seven national sites earmarked for plants under the Coalition’s energy policy.
“What will not happen here, of course, is a nuclear power station,” Mr Albanese said.
“We have Mr Dutton, who refuses to visit this site, but he refuses to visit any of the sites, any of the seven sites. He hasn't been near any of them.
“And you would think that there was radiation coming from these sites because he just won't come and won't talk about what his plans actually are.”
Mr Albanese questioned how the Coalition would fund development of the seven plants, which he said will cost up to $600 billion.
However, federal member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said Mr Albanese is “trying to dupe West Australians”.
Mr Wilson dismissed Mr Albanese’s visit as little more than a photo opportunity.
“Mr Albanese continues to lie in claims that the Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost the taxpayer $600 billion and also claimed that Liberal leader Peter Dutton had not bothered to travel to the seven proposed nuclear sites across the country, including Collie in my electorate,” he said.
“This is simply not true and deserves to be called out.”
Mr Wilson said the Coalition’s plan would be $263 billion cheaper than Labor’s “renewables-only” plan, citing Frontier Economics modelling placing the cost at $331 billion.
“Under our plan, Australia’s energy mix in 2050 would comprise of 54 percent renewables, 38 percent nuclear, and the rest a mix of storage and gas,” he said.
Mr Wilson said the Coalition has “actively engaged” with the Collie community about the proposal.
“Peter Dutton travelled to Collie in October last year, while Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien was in Collie in July last year,” he said. 
“Both met with the local shire, and I regularly engage with the Collie community and have a great relationship with the Collie Shire.
“Anthony Albanese didn’t even notify the Shire of Collie he was coming to town, let alone have a genuine conversation about the future of the Collie community.”