Nuclear Power

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Energy, regarding nuclear power.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: The global nuclear power movement has reached approximately 440 nuclear power reactors operating in more than 30 countries. These include our closest allies: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, South Korea, Japan and India. There are currently a further 60 power plants under construction and another 110 in the planning stages. France has 56 operating nuclear power plants that provide around 70 per cent of the country's power.

The UK government has announced plans for the biggest expansion of nuclear power in 70 years, with the Prime Minister branding nuclear power 'the perfect antidote for the energy challenges facing Britain'. My question is: does the minister agree with Premier Peter Malinauskas' view that nuclear energy is a completely uneconomic technology and, if so, how does the minister explain more than 30 countries operating and developing over 500 nuclear power plants, with another 110 to come?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her question. I was in the Upper Spencer Gulf recently, and at one of the very well-attended forums, this particular issue was raised. The Premier gave quite a fulsome answer to it. I cannot pretend to have as much to hand in terms of notes on that particular topic, but the upshot was that, in terms of the cost, given the scale that we would have in South Australia—being a small state in a country that is also fairly sparsely populated—it would not be economic. If there is anything to add from the minister in the other place, I will bring back that response.