Half of the nuclear power stations under construction in the world are in China. Eleven more were signed off by Premier Li Qiang at a single meeting in Aug­ust. Many analysts forecast that China will likely approve and construct them at that rate – 10 or so a year — for the next three decades. It must also be remembered that China is the world’s biggest carbon emitter and it is approving two new coal plants per week. You read that correctly, two new coal plants are approved each week.

Dutton’s nuclear power plan calls for building seven nuclear power ­stations over the same three-decade period.

An important part of Dutton’s plan is to have its nuclear plants located at or near existing power plant sites. This eliminates the need for a huge new transmission grid. Also, nuclear provides ‘always-on’ power needed to back up renewables, stabilising the grid and keeping energy affordable.

The Coalition’s approach integrates zero-emissions nuclear energy alongside renewables and gas, delivering a total system cost significantly lower than Labor’s. This means reduced power bills for households, lower operating costs for small businesses, and a stronger, more resilient economy.