Australia news LIVE: Grocery stores face billion-dollar fines; Nuclear energy debate to dominate return of parliament

Former ACCC chairman Rod Sims says nuclear power would cost households an extra $200 a year.

Speaking on ABC Radio National this morning, Sims said most new-build nuclear plants in Europe, the UK and US cost users about $200 and $300 per megawatt hour.

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“I think at best it would probably increase household energy costs by well over $200 per annum, that’s at best,” he said.

“If you want to use wind and solar, that’s about $60 to $80 a megawatt hour, if you want to firm that up … that would cost about $110 a megawatt hour give or take a bit.

“If you use nuclear, and you look at the most recent new build plants around Europe, the UK, the US, you are talking at least between $200 and $300 per megawatt hour.”

One of the country’s biggest casino groups has issued a dire trading update, with the company bracing for lower revenue due to less gamblers and inflated regulatory costs.

The Star said on Monday it has appointed current interim chief financial officer Neale O’Connell as acting chief executive as it continues recruitment efforts for a number of key executive roles. Several key executives left in recent months amid the fallout of a second inquiry into its operations in NSW.

The Star expects to accrue up to $1.68 billion in total revenue across its three casinos in Queensland and NSW this financial year, a drop from the $1.8 billion in 2023 that was deemed by former boss Robbie Cooke to be as bad as it would get.

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“We won’t get back to pre-COVID-19 levels, but things are moving in the right direction, and I’m feeling more confident about the operational performance,” Cooke said after unveiling the group’s $2.44 billion loss last year.

The Star said Monday’s trading update reflected the challenging economic environment and cost of living pressures. A lack of high rollers has caused revenue from its VIP rooms to plummet, with the company expecting a 17 per cent fall this quarter.

The Star told investors it seeks to expedite ways to address its inflated operating costs, which have grown to $92.5 million this quarter, up from $92 million in Q3 due to increased regulatory costs.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says the energy transition to renewables has already begun, slamming the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy and accusing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of misinformation.

“The scale of investment in renewables has just gone through the roof. And you can see it in Australia as you can see it globally,” Plibersek said.

“The big danger is that Peter Dutton will distract and divert investment.”

Plibersek echoed rebukes by Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier this morning, calling Peter Dutton’s claim that the government’s energy policy will cost $1.2 trillion “a joke”.

“This is another example of misinformation from the opposition. They’re inflating the costs of the transition. They’re inflating the biggest … kilometres of transmission lines and so on. Because they know that their proposal for nuclear energy is expensive and unattainable.”

Plibersek says the energy transition is already under way, pointing to the “doubling” in renewable projects approved under her leadership.

“It’s real and it’s already happening. You can see that with the addition of around 25 per cent renewable energy in the national grid, and you can see it with the projects that have already come before me for assessment, and you can see it with what’s in the pipeline.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the cost of renewables is a 10th of the $1 trillion figure Opposition Leader Peter Dutton argues it would cost.

Speaking on Nine’s Today, Chalmers argued the nuclear energy policy Dutton released without any costing proves it is a “shambles”.

“What we’ve seen with this nuclear shambles from Peter Dutton is economic insanity, pure and simple. You know, the path that Peter Dutton wants for Australia is the most divisive path,” he said.

“He’s divided his party over it, he can’t provide key details and nuclear, as we know, costs more.”

Asked if he knows the cost of renewables after Dutton claimed it would cost $1 trillion, Chalmers cited the Australian Energy Market Operator report saying renewables cost about $121 billion from now until 2050.

“If you look at the AEMO report, which talks about $121 billion from now until 2050, which is less than a 10th of the figures that Peter Dutton is bandying about,” Chalmers says.

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“The difference between our approach, we know what AEMO says … about our investment needs, we know the kinds of investment we’ll need from the private sector to make the most of this global net-zero energy transformation. We don’t know from Peter Dutton how much his nuclear fantasy will cost.”

In another appearance on ABC’s News Breakfast, Chalmers was asked about an interview opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien gave to ABC’s Insiders on Sunday, in which O’Brien suggested we won’t know the Coalition’s proposed mix of nuclear, renewable and other forms of energy until after the election.

“They are making it up as they go along,” Chalmers replied.

“This is a very dangerous approach from Peter Dutton and the Liberals to a very serious issue.”

Legislation that could fine supermarket giants billions of dollars if they breach a revamped and mandatory code of conduct will be introduced to the parliament as soon as possible, says Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

A review led by former Labor cabinet minister Craig Emerson into strengthening the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct is set to be released today, as the government has accepted all the recommendations.

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Woolworths would face maximum penalties of $5 billion and Coles could be forced to cough up $3.8 billion – 10 per cent of each company’s annual turnover – which Chalmers told ABC the government will legislate.

“We will legislate it as soon as we can,” he said.

“We recognise this is a reforming government and we have a lot of legislation before the parliament. We need to change the Competition Act to implement these changes to the Food and Grocery Code, we will do that when we can, we will need the support of the parliament in order to do that,” Chalmers continued.

“We want to bed down these changes as soon as we can so we can ensure that the supermarkets are doing the right thing by their growers and suppliers and customers.”

Two of the teenagers who triggered a lockdown at an Adelaide Westfield on Sunday afternoon have been arrested.

Two groups of young men fighting in the food court of the Marion shopping centre in south-west Adelaide activated a centre-wide lockdown, as panicked shoppers fled.

Police searched the centre for the group, but the young men, some of whom were allegedly armed with expandable batons, were not initially located on Sunday.

Further investigations led to the two arrests, with two boys aged 15 and 16 charged with assault, affray and aggravated robbery, and two expandable batons seized.

The two teens will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court later today.

South Australia Police are continuing their investigations to locate the remaining boys involved in the indent, which they believe was not random.

Australia’s supermarket giants could be fined billions of dollars – the highest penalties for any industry – if they breach a revamped and mandatory code of conduct designed to fix an imbalance of bargaining power between the major grocery stores and small suppliers.

Woolworths would face maximum penalties of $5 billion and Coles could be forced to cough up $3.8 billion – 10 per cent of each company’s annual turnover – under the massive fines that will be introduced on the recommendation of a major review tasked with strengthening the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.

Read the full story here.

A major shopping centre in Adelaide was forced into lockdown on Sunday afternoon following reports of an armed offender.

Police say the incident at Westfield Marion, south of the CBD, was sparked by two groups of young men fighting in the food court.

“A thorough search of the centre was conducted including rooftops. However, the groups involved were not located,” South Australia Police said in a statement on Sunday.

The offenders are still at large as of Monday morning, with police saying CCTV will be crucial to locating the teenagers.

Assistant Police Commissioner Scott Duval said the boys had expandable batons and may have had knives, but that was yet to be confirmed.

He asked them to come forward and face the consequences of their actions.