00:00Well, the modelling that the Coalition have released compares analysis that the company
00:09that they commissioned had done earlier of Labor's plan of what they call all renewables
00:15and compared it to if Australia had seven reactors under the Coalition's plan, essentially
00:21finding that with their numbers, it would be a quarter of a trillion dollars cheaper.
00:27It's not quite as simple as that, though. There's been quite a bit of criticism around
00:31whether the two plans are really comparing apples and apples. For example, under Peter
00:35Dutton's plan, essentially emissions would be higher in the shorter term on that pathway
00:41to net zero by 2050. So a lot of critics are saying it's not very fair to criticise and
00:47say that Labor's plan of moving earlier on renewables would cost more when the Coalition's
00:52plan on nuclear involves acting much later toward 2050.
00:57What's been the response from the government on this and how do you expect it to play out
01:01in the lead up to the federal election sometime early next year?
01:06So in the sort of days and weeks leading up to what was expected to be this announcement
01:10of the costings, Labor had already started building the case for dismissing the figures
01:15saying that it's a pipe dream, essentially a nuclear fantasy has been the catchphrase
01:21of Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen. I think what really is interesting
01:25about this, though, is that it's created a real contest over energy, over the transition
01:31to net zero for this next election. It's going to be one of the, if not the biggest policy
01:38difference in terms of what the Coalition and Labor will be taking to the next election.
01:43And it's really put energy, environment and cost of living through the context of power
01:48bills right at the heart of the next election.
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