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The energy minister has rubbished his shadow counterpart's claims Australia could have nuclear power plants up and running in 10 years as the Coalition prepares to announce the nuclear plan it will take to the next election.
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O'Brien said on Sunday morning Australia could have a nuclear power plant up in that time.
"The best experts around the world with whom we've been engaging are saying Australia could have nuclear up and running within a 10-year period," he told Sky News.
Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, resorted to a quote made famous by the film The Castle to respond to the opposition's future plans.
"Tell 'im he's dreamin'," Mr Bowen told ABC's Insiders.
"I don't know what experts he is talking to.
"With a very developed [nuclear] regulatory regime, with a very developed nuclear industry [in] the nuclear leader of the world, the average build time of a nuclear power plant in the United States is 19 years.
"Ted O'Brien thinks he can do it in Australia in 10 with a standing start, no regulations, banned not only internationally, but throw in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, you might sell him something."
Australia has a total ban on nuclear energy in place, which the Coalition would have to win the support of parliament to lift even if it won government at the next federal election.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would be upfront with voters about where the Coalition was looking to place potential nuclear reactors when the party announced its policy in the coming weeks.
Speaking on Channel Seven on Tuesday morning, Mr Dutton confirmed the party was "interested" in replacing retiring coal plants with nuclear because the sites came ready with poles and wires to distribute power.
"The problem is with all Mr Dutton and Mr O'Brien's cases for nuclear, when you put scrutiny on them, they crumble like a Sao in a blender," Mr Bowen said.
When asked if the government would look to lift the ban on nuclear, the energy minister said it could come at a high cost to taxpayers.
"I hear this argument about just lift the ban and let the market sort it out. Well, the market hasn't sorted it out in any other country in the world," he said.
"Every country in the world with nuclear has required massive transfers of taxpayer wealth to the nuclear constructors."