Local Communities Respond to Peter Dutton's Refusal to Visit Proposed Nuclear Sites
Residents of the communities earmarked for opposition leader Peter Dutton's nuclear power plan are deeply disappointed by his admission that he will not visit our towns or speak directly with us before the election.
His claim that he "won't be able to meet every Australian" dismisses the very people who would bear the greatest impact of this risky policy. If Mr Dutton is serious about nuclear energy, he should have the courage to face those whose lives, livelihoods, and environments would be forever changed.
Our communities deserve answers:
Why won't he see firsthand the land he wants to transform?
Why won't he hear directly from families, farmers, and Traditional Owners about their concerns?
If he's unwilling to meet us now, how can we trust his promises after the election?
Will the water for the nuclear reactors be taken from our communities?
This isn't about meeting "every Australian"—it's about engaging with the Australians who matter most in this debate. By refusing to visit, Mr Dutton shows he's more interested in pushing a political agenda than listening to the people it will affect.
Lithgow resident Julie Favell said:
"If he came and talked to us, Mr Dutton would realise how much this issue is affecting the local communities. We are real people trying to come to terms with the prospect of having a nuclear reactor dumped on us. We are already under extreme stress from the real life impacts of climate change - mega fires and drought are affecting us here - we dont want a toxic power station as well"
Collie resident Jayla Parkin said:
"Hearing that Mr Dutton won't visit the towns where he wants to put the nuclear reactors makes me think: what has he got to hide? Why can't he come and face us and talk about this like adults? That's shame!"
Wendy Farmer. who has lived in the Latrobe Valley her entire life, said: "I'm not surprised Mr Dutton won't come to see us in the Valley. Our local member Darren Chester has cancelled meetings with everyone opposed to nuclear while telling us that there will be consultation. And all the while the Coalition is pushing ahead and there is no community right of veto.
"They're telling us it will be safe but that's what they said about Hazelwood. We lived with that coal mine on fire for 45 days, this community has had enough of being told what's best for us"
Clinton Dadleh, an Arabunna man from Port Augusta, said "There are so many great things we could do in Port Augusta, so many things we'd rather have before a nuclear power station. If Mr Dutton came here he'd see a community with lots of ideas for a bright future that doesn't involve toxic waste."
Key Facts:
The federal Liberal National Coalition have proposed nuclear reactors at seven sites of coal-fired power stations across Australia:
Tarong Power Station, Nanango, Queensland
Callide Power Station, Biloela, Queensland
Mt Piper Power Station, Lithgow, New South Wales
Liddell Power Station, Musswellbrook, New South Wales
Loy Yang A Power Station, Morwell, Victoria
Northern Power Station, Port Augusta, South Australia
Muja Power Station, Collie, Western Australia
Previously, the Coalition had said there would be a two-and-half year consultation and assessment period, but also said they would not rule out any location based on community objections.
