Media Release

4 March 2020

---

The NSW Labor Opposition has slammed the Liberal-National Government for indicating it would support a repeal of laws that ban uranium mining and nuclear power plants in NSW.

In a show of a growing divide within the Government, Nationals Deputy Premier John Barilaro embarrassed the Premier Gladys Berejiklian by announcing on Sky News his party will support One Nation Leader Mark Latham’s bill to allow nuclear power in NSW.

However he clearly had not warned the Premier he was going to shape Government policy without consulting her or their parliamentary colleagues.

Mr Barilaro threw the Premier under a bus when he committed the National Party to vote for the One Nation bill while the Premier was unable to say what the position of her Government is.

NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said she has trouble taking the Deputy Premier seriously on the issue of nuclear energy.

“Mr Barilaro and the nuclear industry have one thing in common: many of their promises never happen,” Ms McKay said.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Adam Searle confirmed a McKay Labor Government will maintain a ban on uranium exploration, extraction and export.

“A Labor Government will not introduce nuclear power in NSW,” Mr Searle said.

“Nuclear is the most expensive form of power and its waste is a disaster for the environment.

“Regional and coastal communities now face the grim prospect of becoming a nuclear power plant wasteland, as a result of Mr Barilaro leading this Government by the nose.”

These communities include Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Lithgow, Kiama, Nowra and Bega.