Debate heats up over Dutton’s ‘half-baked’ nuclear plan

Well, the Federal Opposition leader has spent the day on the defensive as the Government tries to tear apart his nuclear power plan. We'll take you live to Canberra and our politics reporter Amanda Copp. Amanda, good afternoon. Labour claims it lacks detail and it will cost taxpayers. Davina, the Federal Government has come out pretty hard against the Coalition's plan for nuclear energy. They say for such an ambitious plan, Australians need to know how much it would cost and whether building nuclear would actually bring down electricity prices, given the CSIRO says it's one of the most expensive forms of energy. It's also a shift away from traditional market rules policy from the Coalition. Peter Dutton saying taxpayers would foot the bill with the Commonwealth taking complete ownership of the seven proposed nuclear plants. He says it would bring Australia into line with the rest of the world. Of the top 20 economies in the world, Australia is the only one that doesn't have nuclear. Where nuclear is present, we know that electricity is much cheaper and it's reliable. We'll have government ownership and send all the bills to the taxpayers because there is no way that not a single private bank or financier in this country would go anywhere near this because it's such a risky economic proposition. Now the government is pushing ahead with its renewables plan. Energy Minister Chris Bowen announcing the next steps for offshore wind, confirming private investment in the Hunter region. This is a concrete, practical, clear step forward in contrast with other events yesterday of a fantasy many decades off with no costings, no modelling and no consultation. Davina, we are less than 12 months out from an election and energy policy is shaping up to be one of the biggest debates. But it certainly is OK. Amanda, thank you.