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A university professor and energy expert says it is possible for Australia to make the most of nuclear energy.
However, work needs to begin sooner rather than later if it is to be an alternative to solar and wind in cutting emissions.
University of Queensland Adjunct Professor Stephen Wilson led a 2021 report titled: What would be required for nuclear energy plants to be operating in Australia from the 2030s?
"We found two big things when we looked to answer this question, and one was that it is possible for Australia to do this," he said.
"But the big recommendation we made was that we need to start doing the work now - there's a lot of preparation work to be done."
Professor Wilson is taking part in a two-day nuclear forum on Thursday and Friday, spearheaded by independent MP Bob Katter and Nationals MP David Gillespie.
Also present at Thursday's forum were LNP members Anne Webster, Ian Goodenough and Jenny Ware.
The CSIRO says solar and wind "continue to be the cheapest sources of electricity for any expected share of renewables in the grid" and that it did not see "any prospect of domestic (nuclear power) projects this decade, given the technology's commercial immaturity and high cost".
However, Dr Gillespie said other scientific reports pointed to nuclear power being able to safely provide low-carbon energy at a fraction of the cost of some renewables.
Nuclear power production is banned under two federal laws.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has asked for work to be done on a nuclear power policy, but he has yet to confirm what position the coalition would take to the next election.
Dr Gillespie said he was growing confident of the coalition adopting a nuclear energy policy, but would not pre-empt the decision.
