The Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy is set to investigate the nuclear fuel cycle at the request of Energy Minister Angus Taylor.
As Committee Chair, Sunshine-Coast based MP for Fairfax Ted O’Brien will be tasked to lead the inquiry after the Minister’s request is considered and adopted by the Committee.
“This will be the first inquiry into the use of nuclear energy in Australia in more than a decade and I believe it’s the first time the Australian Parliament has ever undertaken such an inquiry,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Clearly there are very passionate views on either side of this debate.
“Like any inquiry, it will be important that as a Committee we hear all views, take into account all expert opinions and dispassionately assess all evidence put before us.
“The Committee will be asking a range of questions to establish whether nuclear energy would be feasible and suitable for Australia with account for economic, environmental and safety issues,” Mr O’Brien said.
“There are new and emerging forms of nuclear energy technology that are very different from the old smoke stack reactors people tend to picture when they think nuclear energy and it’s on these newer technologies that we’ll focus.
“Our job will be to determine the circumstances under which future Coalition or Labor Governments might consider nuclear energy generation.
“Nonetheless, the Government’s moratorium on nuclear energy generation in Australia remains and the Morrison Government has no plans to change that.”
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has requested the Committee – which consists of government, opposition and cross bench MPs – undertake the landmark investigation.