Australia is one of the few nations in the world where the use of nuclear energy for power generation is effectively banned.
The nation has long taken an anti-nuclear stance, driven by a cross-section of views – mostly associated with a perceived and confused link to nuclear weapons proliferation and uranium mining.
The view of most politicians, particularly those on the Aussie political left has remained firmly anti-nuclear, despite nuclear being part of the mix of most developed nations in the world.
That ideology now seems to be more about protecting the special interests of the renewable energy sector.
Protectionism Against Nuclear Power
This week, Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni ‘said the quiet part out loud’ in a message to the RE sector in his state.
The centre-left Labor Minister told the sector in a pre-recorded video message that “the threat of nuclear power is a moratorium on your industry, your goals & your plans.”
The Queensland Energy Minister just said the quiet part out loud.
— Nuclear for Australia (@nuclearforaus) September 5, 2023
Today he told renewable industry reps “the threat of nuclear power is a moratorium on your industry, your goals & your plans”.
Corporates shouldn’t be protected over people.
✍️Petition:https://t.co/jNRyw6v4P1 pic.twitter.com/GMCnnzfwfZ
The renewable energy protectionism by Queensland is even more intriguing, juxtaposed against the state’s massive fossil fuel industry.
Queensland Coal Powerhouse
The Queensland coal industry feeds much of Australia’s power, and much is exported to meet Asia’s energy needs – representing a major source of revenue for the government and national income.
Queensland state exported around AU$70 Billion (US $45B) worth of coal in 2022, mostly to Asian nations, including India, Japan and Korea. With a 15% state royalty, that’s a huge source of revenue for the local government.
Much of this revenue is being funnelled into renewable energy plans.
According to The Guardian, the Queensland government has committed $62 billion Australian to a “super grid” of renewable power, storage and transmission lines by 2035.
Nuclear No Go for Australian Left
Nuclear has long been mooted as a replacement technology for existing coal fire power plants.
So, why does an Australian government want to protect the Renewable Energy industry, while blocking the potential development of nuclear energy technology in Australia?
As the IEA suggests, a mix of renewables, plus nuclear energy, is the pathway forward to a net-zero world.
Why would Australia deny itself the opportunity to develop a nuclear energy industry, with about one-third of the world’s known uranium reserves?
