Amid energy grid dysfunction, Dutton goes nuclear

At last we seem to have found a political leader who combines common sense with national vision (“Dutton presses button on the nuclear debate”, 3/8).

All the fresh evidence on the costings, the safety and the suitability of small modular reactors suggests Australia is in the box seat to capitalise on the new technology. With groundbreaking scientific advances at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s Lucas Heights facilities and some of the best universities in the world, the opportunities for all Australians, especially our young people, are boundless. Hallelujah to Peter Dutton and the federal Coalition. You will make us all winners.

John Graham, Dungog, NSW

It is so obvious that we as a nation have absolutely no chance of changing the climate in Australia (or elsewhere in the world) with our 1.2 per cent of global emissions. The Liberal Party may gain some traction if they spend their time arguing for mitigation against extreme weather events, which Australia has always had. Let us put our money and effort into fuel reduction in forests, clearing around houses at risk, dam building and whatever else will be of help in a practical way.

Sheila Knight, Malvern, Vic

It is understandable the Liberal Party wants to provide a point of difference. But choosing to back nuclear, an expensive form of energy, and going against public sentiment – as well as the Business Council of Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which all endorse Labor’s 43 per cent emissions reductions target – doesn’t seem a sensible path. In fact, Dutton’s expensive and environmentally irresponsible suggestions mean the Liberals risk making themselves irrelevant and further limit their election chances in 2025.

Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Nuclear power is a valid route to assisting the world to achieve carbon net zero. It is relatively safe as evidenced by Hinkley B, the UK’s most productive power plant, which came to the end of its reliable life this week and was closed down after 46 years of operation.

The current problem with nuclear power is the sheer cost and the time to plan, design and construct a plant. The UK recently approved the building of a new reactor. It will cost around £20bn ($35bn) and take around 12 years to become operational. This is in a country that has 11 nuclear power plants and significant expertise.

Commentaries suggest the future will see small modular reactors introduced. As CSIRO points out, the industry is immature. The US only this week certified the first SMR design.

Any discussion should also include the potential for South Australia to become a repository for the world’s nuclear waste. We have stable geology and the rest of the world would pay billions for a place to store waste.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

At long last, a prominent Australian politician with the intestinal fortitude to publicly canvas nuclear power generation as part of the mix for Australia’s future energy security. Peter Dutton’s insightful statement that “Nuclear energy is a mature, proven technology … (that) can provide the reliable, emissions-free baseload electricity Australia needs” is an excellent starting point for the debate this nation desperately needs to have.

Nuclear generation would be part of a mix; providing the certainty and stability to the grid that wind and solar will never do. In reality, once established, nuclear generators produce power at very low cost. It is their establishment expenses that detract from their overall efficiency, and small modular reactors are specifically designed to reduce those set-up costs.

Bill Pannell, Dalkeith, WA

Anthony Albanese’s climate change bill is a step in the right direction and looking more promising with the proposed amend­ments of the Greens and teals (“Climate change bill set to pass”, 3/8).

The teals are right to describe Labor’s 43 per cent emissions target as an absolute minimum. As a measure that can be implemented subsequent to the bill, the Greens’ proposal to end coal and gas exports would benefit our country economically.

New fossil fuel projects are set to become a financial risk as investment in renewables grows.

Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa, ACT