Nuclear power not needed in Aust: PM

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia doesn't need nuclear energy.

Concerns about possible nuclear power in Australia have been raised following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Friday.

Three reactors at a nuclear power plant in northern Japan have lost cooling capacity .. raising fears of a meltdown.

But Ms Gillard told ABC TV last night .. the Labor Party has not entertained the proposition of nuclear power in Australia.

Ms Gillard says the nuclear situation in Japan is pretty grim and the next 24 hours will prove critical.