Coalition goes cool on nuclear energy plants  

The Age reports that the Australian opposition has decided to jettison one of their many unpopular policies that helped them lose the last election - abandoning support for nuclear power.

THE Federal Opposition has quietly ditched its support for a nuclear power industry in Australia. Environment spokesman Greg Hunt has told The Age: "In the next 40 years, I think there is a zero chance of a nuclear power industry in Australia." Mr Hunt said the Coalition's policy was changed at a shadow cabinet meeting in December, although no statement was issued at the time.

The new policy does not explicitly oppose nuclear-generated electricity, but goes close. The Coalition will no longer advocate nuclear power, recognising that its introduction would only be possible with bipartisan political support and widespread community support. The decision represents an abrupt departure from the policy the Howard government took to last November's election. In the year before the poll, then prime minister John Howard repeatedly stated that nuclear must be one of the options considered as part of Australia's future energy mix.