![](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/oU4Vxf_3gsrCw49TpkqgAC7D4OE=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2024%2F06%2F600454%2Ffedpols.png)
The government and opposition have traded barbs as the nuclear debate rages on for a second day, with the prime minister slamming the Coalition's proposed reactors as a "fantasy".
"Instead of Snow White and the seven dwarves, this is Peter Dutton and the seven nuclear reactors," Anthony Albanese said today.
The government pressed the Coalition on the as-yet-unreleased costs of the seven proposed nuclear reactors, which Peter Dutton said will be released in "bite-sized bits".
The prime minister said the Coalition's policy had no set costs, no realistic timeframe, and few details on what type of reactor the power plants would use.
"The reason you haven't got costs is because it's so expensive. It doesn't add up," Albanese said.
"We want the information out there in bite-sized bits, if you like, so that people can consume countered what it is that we're proposing and understand what it's not proposing," Dutton said.
Dutton instead put forward his case for the economic benefits of nuclear energy in the proposed sites around the country.
"The jobs created there can underpin economic and jobs growth for eight-to-ten decades, up to 100 years," he said.
The opposition is backing a state-owned model for the nuclear plants, which the government says is financially unsound.
The opposition is adamant that the proposed cost for the project will be released before the next federal election.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen was in Newcastle today, spruiking the recently granted approval for a large off-shore wind project off the NSW coast.
Keen to promote the government's energy agenda, Bowen said the project would employ 3000 workers and create up to 300 local jobs, and generate enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes when it comes online.
"This is a concrete, practical, clear step forward," he said.
Meanwhile, an unhappy MP, Dan Repacholi, criticised Peter Dutton for not making the nuclear announcement in the NSW Hunter region, where one of the proposed reactors will be located.
"Peter Dutton announced his half-baked nuclear plan and didn't have the balls to come and announce it here," he said.
The war of words will likely continue as nuclear energy looks to become one of the major issues of next year's federal election.