The big news this week has been the game-changing decision by the Australian PM, the US President and the UK PM to form AUKUS and allow Australia to obtain nuclear submarines. I am delighted Albo has agreed on the proviso that they not be dependent on any nuclear industry being developed in Australia, nor us acquiring any nuclear arms or breaching the non-proliferation treaty. I think we should buy the US Virginia class now off the shelf and have some boats in the water in a few years’ time not 20.
This historic decision poses the question of why we don’t have a civilian nuclear power industry and leads me into what I think Australia needs to do to address climate change.
We must develop a nuclear power industry and fast. We are blessed with 38 per cent of the world’s uranium. I believe we are the only developed nation in the G20 without nuclear power. With the advent of small modular reactors (like those used in the subs), nuclear power is one of the safest forms of power available. It is baseload power. Unlike the unreliable wind and solar, it is available 24/7. It does not kill large birds such as endangered eagles as wind turbines do. Unlike our solar panels and wind farm towers, which are in the main made largely in China using Australian coal and iron exports to China and creating lots of emissions in the process, the waste can be safely disposed of in a small secure facility in the middle of Australia and we avoid the landfill problems of disposing of billions of used solar panels which have a shelf life of 20 to 25 years.
In about 10 years we could satisfy all our electricity needs from homegrown nuclear power. We would meet the target of zero emission by 2050. I can understand the political need to separate the nuclear subs from the domestic question of nuclear power as the two are unrelated, but I think most Australians see the need for baseload nuclear power; if there was a plebiscite on the issue after a detailed discussion on the facts the vote would be similar to the same sex marriage vote (over 60 per cent in favour). We need to have this discussion and resolve the issue in the next 18 months or so and then get on with it.
As well as nuclear, we need to use any new technology that is invented to reduce emissions. In 2007 when I was ACT opposition leader, I looked at solar technology and thought it had huge potential. We have in Australia the most sunlight in the world. Unfortunately, we could not store it – and after 14 years we still can’t. There is merit in hydro, too.
The bottom line is, however, we need to go nuclear and there is no way we should get rid of our baseload coal-fired power stations or gas until they can be safely replaced with new baseload power such as nuclear.
With Bill Stefaniak AM RFD, Former ACT Opposition Leader
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Daily.
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