Ms OWENS (2:42 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s statement on 29 December 2006 that he would have no objection to a nuclear reactor being located in Bennelong. Does the Prime Minister support the statements by the members for Menzies, Flinders, Gilmore and Curtin, as well as the New South Wales opposition leader, Peter Debnam, who have indicated their opposition to having one of the 25 reactors in their seats? Will the Prime Minister rule out a nuclear power reactor in Bennelong?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I have not seen the statement attributed to my colleagues but I am sure that, as is their custom, they made very sensible statements. My position on nuclear power is that I think this country should examine the nuclear option. It is too early to be talking about individual locations because—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr HOWARD —I know the game that the opposition are playing. They may think it is clever short-term politics but it is doing a great deal of long-term damage to a sensible debate this country. I welcome the fact that three prominent Australian businessmen have formed a company to look at the issue of nuclear power generation. I would think it completely unexceptionable that they might have had some contact with the government. I listened with fascination to all of the questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition.

What on earth turns on somebody who, according to the Premier of South Australia, is a good enough adviser on the business affairs of South Australia to sit at the cabinet table with the Labor Premier? There is Mr Walker, who was, I am very happy to say, Honorary Federal Treasurer of the Liberal Party, and a very good one—and he is now the Chairman of John Fairfax Ltd. And there is Robert Champion de Crespigny, who, amongst other things, as well as being a very successful businessman, was a member some years ago of the Council for Reconciliation and devoted a great deal of time to improving relations between the Indigenous population and the rest of the Australian population.

But I would just say to the member for Parramatta: I think this nation, if it is serious about climate change, has to look at the nuclear option. I am not frightened of that. I am not ruling out power stations anywhere in this country. That is a juvenile, idiotic game to play. To those who sit opposite, if you are interested in a serious debate—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Jagajaga is warned!

Mr HOWARD —you will embrace it. I do not intend to be diverted from a rational discussion of the nuclear option by this kind of childish scare tactic.