Peter Dutton says nuclear ‘will make electricity cheaper’ but critics say Coalition costings a ‘fantasy’

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiling costings of the Coalition’s proposed nuclear energy plan in Brisbane on Friday. Photograph: Russell Freeman/AAP

Peter Dutton is promising power bills will be 44% cheaper under his $331bn nuclear energy plan, but the modelling relies on demand not increasing as much as the government expects, despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles and energy-hungry technologies.

Dutton claimed on Friday his plan to introduce nuclear energy in Australia would “keep the lights on” at a lower cost than the Labor government’s renewables-reliant transition.