Howard says nuclear power ad campaign possible

Prime Minister John Howard says there might be a new Federal Government advertising campaign - this time on nuclear power.

Mr Howard says the Government reserves the right to campaign on an nuclear industry in Australia.

"There's no dark secret about this - we support opening Australia up to the possibility of a nuclear industry," he said.

But he says there are no current plans.

Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd is demanding to know more.

"Prime Minister, don't the Australian people have a right to know whether this campaign will be conducted before the next election and how much it will cost?" he said.

Mr Howard told Parliament if a campaign does go ahead, it would be appropriate and defensible.

"Let me simply say to the Leader of the Opposition, we've indicated a disposition to have such a strategy, we think it's necessary, we make no apology for it and watch this space for more information," he said.

Mr Howard says he is interested in knowing if the Federal Government has the constitutional power to override the states on a nuclear industry if necessary.

The Government receives a greenhouse emissions task force report tomorrow and Mr Howard says nuclear power is a clean green alternative to fossil fuel.