Jim Chalmers continues to wage tireless scare campaign that Coalition would construct nuclear power plant in Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson.

Sky News AU

29-04-2025

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has claimed for the second consecutive day that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would construct a nuclear power plant in his marginal Qld seat of Dickson, despite the Coalition's nuclear energy plan containing no such proposal.
The Treasurer's relentless scare campaign was sparked after Peter Dutton outlined during the final leaders debate that he would feel comfortable having a nuclear power plant in his own electorate of Dickson.
'I would have a nuclear site in my own suburb," Mr Dutton said during Channel 7's The Final Showdown.
Speaking in Brisbane on Monday, Mr Chalmers capitalised on the Liberal leader's remarks, stating that Dickson residents should prepare for the imposition of a nuclear power facility.
'To all of those people in that wonderful part of southeast Queensland, in the electorate of Dickson, you all need to know that your local member wants to build a nuclear reactor in your suburbs,' Mr Chalmers said.
Speaking in Brisbane on Monday Mr Chalmers capitalised on the Liberal leader's remarks, stating that Dickson residents should prepare for the imposition of a nuclear power facility. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire.
'Ali France (Labor candidate for Dickson) is not going to build a nuclear reactor in your local community but Peter Dutton wants to. I would encourage you to think about that as you choose your local member."
When the claim was first made by Mr Chalmers, a Coalition statement labelled the accusation as false and unfounded.
'We have been emphatic that only the seven identified communities, each with a retiring or recently retired coal fired power station, are being considered as possible locations for zero-emissions nuclear energy," the statement read.
'No other locations will be considered. Dickson is not among the seven sites identified by the Coalition."
However, Mr Chalmers speaking alongside the Prime Minister in the Greens held seat of Griffith on Tuesday again insisted that the Coalition sought to impose a nuclear power station in Dickson.
'We are not doing what Peter Dutton wants to do, which is build a nuclear reactor in the suburbs of his local community,' Mr Chalmers said.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in the electorate of Whitlam which covers the southern Illawarra and NSW Southern Highlands, Mr Dutton categorically ruled out building a nuclear site in Dickson and accused the Prime Minister of playing political games.
'Those seven sites were identified around the country. There's not one in my electorate. So, the Prime Minister can play all sorts of games,' Mr Dutton said.
'We've been upfront in relation to the seven sites that we've identified for the end-of-use coal-fired power stations where there's already polls and wires going out, so you save 28,000 new kilometres of poles."
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in the electorate of Whitlam, Mr Dutton categorically ruled out building a nuclear site in Dickson and accused the Prime Minister of playing political games. Picture:.
The Coalitions nuclear energy plan has become a controversial issue throughout the federal election trail, with Mr Dutton's campaign event in Gilmore on Tuesday morning hijacked by anti-nuclear protesters. Picture
The Coalition's nuclear energy plan has become a controversial issue throughout the federal election trail, with Mr Dutton's campaign event in Gilmore on Tuesday morning hijacked by anti-nuclear protesters.
When asked about the anti-nuclear protesters earlier today, which disrupted him from pledging funding for a local football club, Mr Dutton blamed the Teals and the Greens for pulling 'stunts'.
'In relation to the kids who I think were disappointed to have their event disrupted, it would have been nice to spend more time with them but there were Greens and Teal supporters dressed up and it was a stunt,' Mr Dutton said.
'It made no difference to me in terms of protest activity, but it disrupted an event where we wanted to talk about helping kids play junior rugby."
The Coalition has proposed two nuclear sites in Queensland.
One is in Tarong, 120km northwest of Brisbane, and the other is slated for Callide, about 585km north west of Brisbane, in central Queensland.