As Gough Whitlam said in 1972, “it’s time”. It’s time we put ideology and 1980s-style scare campaigns aside and had a genuine look at nuclear energy. Our energy transition commitments are sending us into penury, and our security environment is the worst it’s been since World War II. Nuclear energy is the kind of nation-building policy we need when our lucky country’s luck is running out.

It was after World War II when our political leaders last had a sensible debate about nuclear energy. In the years immediately after the War, the Chifley then Menzies governments were intent on shoring up Australia’s energy and resource security. Australian leaders back then were visionary. They had high hopes for the potential of Australia. They wanted to develop the nation into a significant middle power.