Earlier today, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce had the final word after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was peppered with questions about the Coalition’s nuclear power policy at a press conference in the Hunter Valley.

In a report released overnight, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering found a fully formed market for small-scale nuclear reactors is unlikely to develop in Australia for more than 20 years because of the technology’s expense and unproven performance, casting doubt on a key pillar of the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear power facilities.

In response, Dutton said “there are plenty of experts around” who see the potential for nuclear development in Australia’s energy market, as the Coalition does.

“We’ve done analysis, and we’ve spoken to experts. Our analysis is that we can have nuclear into the system [by] 2035 to 2037 in the first two sites, and then we’ll continue to roll it out from there,” the Liberal leader said.

But as Dutton thanked reporters and tried to end the press conference amid questions about how he would address the concerns some Muswellbrook residents had about having a nuclear reactor proposed nearby, former deputy prime minister Joyce asked if he could add one last thing.

Peter gave some great examples. I’m gonna give you one more – one more.

And you’ve got to hear this – you’ve got to hear this: Australia does have a nuclear reactor. People don’t realise it, [but] we do.

It’s bang smack in this city – might’ve heard of it – a town called Sydney, right, Sydney.

And around Sydney are houses worth $1.5 to $1.6 million. And if they look out their front or back door, whichever way they want to face, they see Lucas Heights.

So if Sydney can handle it, I reckon Muswellbrook can handle it.”

Lucas Heights is home to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANTSO) reactor, which underpins Australia’s nuclear medicine capabilities.

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Last month, ANU honorary professor Tony Irwin told this masthead the Open-pool Australian lightwater reactor (OPAL) at ANTSO was very different from reactors intended to drive nuclear power.

OPAL is a “neutron factory” that runs cool, meaning if the reactor surpasses 60 degrees, control rods plunge into the core to disrupt the nuclear fission in half a second.

“It’s completely the opposite to a power reactor, which is a big kettle,” said Irwin, who managed the Sydney reactor in its early years. “You want as much temperature as you can to produce steam.”

The Lucas Heights reactor only generates about 20 megawatts of heat compared to nuclear power stations in the UK, which produce about 1200 megawatts, and the 300 megawatts produced by the small modular reactors spruiked by Dutton that are not yet commercially viable.

With Angus Dalton