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Australia won't sign nuclear agreement with UK and US

By AAP Newswire

Nov 19, 2024

A nuclear reactor used for medical research in Aydney. — Australia has denied it could team up with the UK and US on civilian nuclear initiatives. -AAP Image

Australia won't be signing an agreement with the US or UK to fast-track the development of civil nuclear energy.

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At the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan overnight, the British government said it expected Australia to join its allies in an agreement to promote civil nuclear energy and help the decarbonise industry.

However, the reference to Australia was later removed from a statement announcing a new civil nuclear collaboration agreement between the UK and the US.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles told federal parliament on Tuesday the Labor government wasn't signing any such agreement.

"This agreement is in respect of countries which both have a civil nuclear industry," he said.

Mr Marles said nuclear energy would push up household power bills for Australians because it was "the single most expensive electricity option on the planet".

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen were making Australia an "international embarrassment".

"We can't achieve the outcomes that we want for our economy, for the environment, without nuclear power," Mr Dutton told reporters in Canberra.

"The government has a train wreck problem here when it comes to their energy policy and we've now got Chris Bowen internationally who is embarrassing us with our international partners and our closest allies."

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press