Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's plan to build nuclear power stations has been a focus of the campaign for the May 3 federal election, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese routinely criticising the policy.
The coalition claims its nuclear plan is 44 per cent cheaper than the Albanese government's plan to shift the grid to renewables, backed up with storage and gas.
But Labor has put a $600 billion price tag on the opposition's plan to build seven nuclear reactors across five states on the sites of coal-fired power stations.
Labor has also released costings claiming the plan will require $5.7 billion a year due to interest payments on debt over the next decade, and $57 billion over the decade to 2035 to 2036.
The coalition's plan was "nuclear insanity" that would blow out the Commonwealth's budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.
"The only way for Peter Dutton to pay for his nuclear reactors will be to cut Medicare," he said.
"Australians would have been much worse off if he had his way on tax cuts, wages and energy rebates and they'll be worse off still if he wins the next election."
Experts have previously warned the nuclear debate is mired in cherry-picked figures and flawed comparisons.
Nuclear costs are highly uncertain, and the estimates cited by politicians on both sides are incomparable.
Labor claims the coalition's plan will cost every taxpayer $86,339 by 2050, $42,857 to build and another $43,482 in interest.
"We know that when Peter Dutton cuts, you pay and when it comes to his $600 billion nuclear reactors, you'll pay a lot," Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
"Peter Dutton is telling Australians they have to foot the bill for his nuclear reactors with higher taxes and worse services, all while sending the budget into the red for generations."
The prime minister spent Saturday touring flood zones in western Queensland, while Mr Dutton was in the Northern Territory.
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