Victorian premier pushes back on Dutton's nuclear power plan

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has told federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton she will not be negotiating on a nuclear power plant in the state.

Her refusal came as welcome news for residents in Traralgon in the Gippsland region who staged a snap rally outside federal MP Darren Chester’s office vowing to fight the plan.

“We just don’t need it, there’s enough renewable energy,” one resident said.

Their representative in state parliament is undecided and says he wants to educate himself.

“It’s a hard one to actually say,” Morwell MP Martin Cameron said when asked about his stance.

“It’s nothing to be scared about, I don’t think.”

Labor is challenging the state coalition to stop the plan.

“Nuclear energy, it’s toxic, it’s risky,” Allan said.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said he will wait to see where the conversation goes.

“We have no plans for it, but we acknowledge the a future government may initiate that discussion, I don’t think we should be foreclosing that discussion,” Pesutto said.

Labour Minister Danny Pearson said Pesutto “has 24 hours to show some spine”.

The biggest hurdle to Dutton’s plan in the state is a ban on nuclear written into legislation.

It would either have to be repealed by a like-minded state government or it would need to be challenged through the courts.