Dutton confirms that the Geographe Bay offshore wind farm zone will not go ahead under the pro-nuclear coalition government

Opposition leader Peter Dutton was cheered by locals in one town, but booed by some in another, as he arrived in the south-west aiming to convince WA to replace a major renewable energy project with a nuclear option.

He promised a coalition government would scrap Labour’s proposed wind farm 12 miles off the coast of Geographe Bay, saying it does not have the necessary social license.

“It is not supported by residents and is not economically viable,” he said.

“Because it is not in the interest of the environment, it is not in the interest of the economy, it is not in the interest of the region and it is not in the interest of small businesses or residents here in this local community.”

“What Australians now realize is that their energy prices will continue to rise under Anthony Albanese.”

The revised 4,000 square kilometer offshore wind farm zone proposed by the federal government was announced in September and feasibility permit applications are currently being sought.

But Donnybrook farmer John Fry, who has retired to Busselton, is not convinced the numbers stack up compared to onshore wind, solar or even nuclear power.

He was one of about 250 people who attended Friday’s community meeting and said Mr Dutton received a “very warm” welcome.

Mr Dutton’s south-west trip also included Collie, where he has pledged to install a nuclear reactor if elected to replace coal-fired power stations due to close by 2030.

The opposition leader met with Collie Shire councilors for a 90-minute meeting that was closed to the public and kept secret from local media as about half a dozen protesters gathered outside.

The activists confronted Mr Dutton on his way out and complained that they were not allowed to ask questions.

“I don’t think I want this nonsense in Collie,” said local Indigenous woman Stevie Anderson.

“Especially if they don’t let me know about it.”

Mr Dutton would not promise to meet local elders but lashed out at the ABC when a journalist asked why.

“I’m not interested in the politics of the ABC,” he said.

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The state government accused Mr Dutton of hiding and said Collie’s future lies with renewables, not nuclear power.

“It’s sneaky, it’s unfair,” said Housing Minister John Carey.

“It is clear that he is deeply ashamed of his own nuclear policy… he has shown total disrespect, he has gone out of his way to avoid scrutiny.”

Mr Dutton again declined to answer questions about the cost and timeframe for a Collie reactor, promising the information would be released “in due course”.