Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has publicly advocated for the construction of two nuclear reactors on Australia’s east coast. During a campaign visit to Victoria ahead of the state election, Hanson argued that nuclear energy is a necessary component of a diverse power supply. In addition to her nuclear proposal, she called for taxpayer funding to ensure the continued operation of the Loy Yang coal-fired power station near Traralgon.

These remarks represent a notable shift, as they appear to be at odds with One Nation’s current official party policy. When questioned about the similarity between her proposal and the nuclear energy platform previously championed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Hanson rejected the comparison. She maintained that her current push is distinct from the policy platform Dutton utilized during his unsuccessful federal election campaign. While Hanson is emphasizing energy diversity, the specific details regarding how these reactors would be funded or regulated remain unaddressed in her recent comments. The party has not yet issued a formal update to its official platform to reflect these new statements.