Opposition leader Peter Dutton has dismissed the government's nuclear cost estimates, A week-long refugee rights protest is underway, And in Rugby league, the Panthers' star halfback cleared to play in the preliminary final despite a finger injury.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Opposition leader Peter Dutton has dismissed the government's nuclear cost estimates.
- A week-long refugee rights protest is underway.
- And in Rugby league, the Panthers' star halfback cleared to play in the preliminary final despite a finger injury.
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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has dismissed financial estimates from the Energy and Climate Change Department that claim a transition to nuclear energy would cost $387 billion.
The government has released the new data in an attempt to address growing calls for nuclear power in Australia.
The figures are a cost estimate for the deploying of nuclear energy to replace Australia's existing coal-fired power facilities.
However, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton rejects these estimates, arguing that nuclear power is cheaper and more reliable, and that including nuclear power in Australia's energy mix is the only possible way to meet emissions targets.
He claims that nuclear power has decreased power bills in other countries.
“If you look at what's happening in Canada, where 60 per cent of their energy source comes from nuclear, they pay half the electricity price that we do here. There are 50 countries in the world, either using or looking to use nuclear technologies. So why would those countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Canada, why would those countries see the latest nuclear technology as a viable way and a credible way to get to net zero? By 2050, but Chris Bowen doesn't.”
But Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists that renewable energy is the cheapest way forward.
"They say their answer is nuclear. They think the answer is to put the most expensive form of power available into our grid. When we have no nuclear industry. We have no regulations in place, it will cost even more than it's facing in other countries and around the world is facing cost blowouts and time blowouts."
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The refugee group 12,000 Captive Souls has started a week-long protest outside the office of Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil today.
The protest is demanding faster refugee visa processing times.
Spokesperson Mahboobeh Mirshahi and her daughter Tanya are among between 10,000 and 12,000 asylum-seekers in Australia rejected under the "fast track" system and left in limbo for 11 years on a bridging visa.
High School student Tanya Mirshahi tells SBS News this process is unjust.
"Instead of focusing on my school work I've been put in a position where I have to worry about like coming to protest and negotiate my rights with MP and government representatives. I believe this is really unfair and very unfortunate circumstances. It sucks that no one cares to listen to us. No one cares enough to look out for us."
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A boy critically injured when his scooter was hit in a serious crash involving an alleged drunk driver has died after two weeks in hospital.
The 12-year-old died yesterday, 14 days after the September 3rd accident on Queensland's Sunshine Coast when his scooter was hit by a Mazda utility.
The driver, a 27-year-old man, was initially charged with drink driving but his charges are expected to be upgraded before he faces court at Maroochydore on October 30th.
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Australian voters are being urged to check their enrolment ahead of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, following warnings of misinformation.
Australians have less than 24 hours left before voter enrolment closes.
It comes following a march in favour of the voice proposal through Australia's state capitals and regional towns on the weekend, ahead of the referendum on the 14th of October.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says since the announcement of the vote, over 240,000 enrolment transactions have been submitted, or about 15,000 a day.
Greens leader Adam Bandt says he is impressed by the turnout
"More and more people are recognizing that, despite the campaign's from the no side, actually this is about a simple proposition. This is about recognizing that First Nations people in our Constitution. A simple statement of fact that, not only were they here but that they deserve a voice to be consulted in the decisions that affect them."
There are over 17.5 million people on the electoral roll, with at least 97.5 per cent of eligible Australians registered.
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In rugby league,
The Panthers confidence is running high after their star halfback Nathan Cleary was cleared to play in the preliminary final against Melbourne Storm despite a finger injury.
Cleary scared his teammate when he was injured this morning, prompting officials to send him to hospital for precautionary scans.
The scans have cleared the 25 year old of any significant injury, meaning he should be fine to face Storm on Friday night.
However any lingering injury concerns for Cleary is the last thing Penrith needs especially with fellow playmaker Jarome Luai already in doubt for the big clash.
