Let business decide if nuclear power is worth further investment

Your editorial rightly suggests that claims nuclear power is too expensive should be put to the test. Businesses – not scientific bodies or governments – are the only organisations qualified to conduct that test (“Consider nuclear before we run out of usable power”, 10/08). Accordingly, federal and state moratoriums on using nuclear power should be removed, nuclear should be offered the same generous subsidies renewables attract, and a regulatory regime for using nuclear should be established. If business believes nuclear does not stack up commercially, the matter will be settled. The advent of SMRs offers another possibility because they are potentially attractive to a wider set of buyers than large-scale energy utilities. In the US, industrial giants Nucor and Dow are evaluating this technology solely for their own use. Why shouldn’t Australian companies be offered the same opportunity? That way corporations – not taxpayers or other energy users – would bear the supposed economic risks of using nuclear.

Your editorial rightly suggests that claims nuclear power is too expensive should be put to the test. Businesses – not scientific bodies or governments – are the only organisations qualified to conduct that test (“Consider nuclear before we run out of usable power”, 10/08). Accordingly, federal and state moratoriums on using nuclear power should be removed, nuclear should be offered the same generous subsidies renewables attract, and a regulatory regime for using nuclear should be established. If business believes nuclear does not stack up commercially, the matter will be settled. The advent of SMRs offers another possibility because they are potentially attractive to a wider set of buyers than large-scale energy utilities. In the US, industrial giants Nucor and Dow are evaluating this technology solely for their own use. Why shouldn’t Australian companies be offered the same opportunity? That way corporations – not taxpayers or other energy users – would bear the supposed economic risks of using nuclear.

W. McColl, Roseville, NSW

Like Peter Ridd, I wish the Great Barrier Reef were thriving (“ ‘Reef doomsayers’ show breakdown in science institutions”, The Australian, 10/8). The cumulative pressures, however, of temperature-induced coral bleaching, deteriorating water quality, ocean acidification and predation by pests like crown-of-thorns starfish, all largely driven by global heating, are, however, no doubt having an impact. The Australian Institute of Marine Science’s annual report indeed confirms hard coral cover has increased since 2016. AIMS does, however, outline this increase is attributable to some fast-growing coral species. The diversity of coral cover is being challenged by repeated bleaching events. CSIRO, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority all list climate change as the greatest threat to the Reef. To protect it, we must individually and collectively make rapid progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Amy Hiller, Kew, VIC

Let’s not get carried away with thinking going nuclear is going to solve our problems overnight. It won’t be before the 2025 federal election before a debate about changing Australia’s nuclear ban will be held, even then if successful it could be 15 or 20 years before a working small module reactor would be in place. The urgent need is to take action now. The Bowen plan to transition to renewables is guaranteed to fail, because they have a lack of (weather-dependent) fuel. With coal-fired power stations due to be closed, the situation can only be dire. These coal-fired power stations, when closed, must not be demolished, but mothballed so they can be restarted when required. As they absolutely will be.

The question must be asked: If we can export billions of tonnes of coal to be burnt overseas, Why can’t we burn it here? If the federal government built HELE coal-fired generators throughout Australia, it would give Australia energy security.

John Moore, Wangaratta, Vic

Games on with Gina

Gina Rinehart’s offer of financial support for the Gold Coast’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games should be welcomed and supported by anyone with Australia’s interests at heart. Those mindlessly applauding Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ shock canning of this event as some sort of necessary budgetary prudence failed to see the bigger picture of what this event meant to our nation’s strategic wellbeing.

Our staging of the Commonwealth Games helps keep alive vital connections with one of our oldest defence partners, the UK. Such an event, however indirectly, should also further strengthen our AUKUS alliance. And strong alliances are the best guarantee of peace in our region as we stand with our allies against an aggressively expanding China. So, it’s to be hoped that not only do the Commonwealth Games go ahead, but that they are the best and brightest we’ve ever seen.

Paul Dobbyn, Wynnum, Qld

Housing woes

The warning from the CEO of the Business Council of Australia, that the “national failure to free up housing supply must not be used as a ‘scapegoat’ to reduce the migrant intake …”, highlights its general attitude that migration is being used, and must be used, as a key means of driving the national economy (“Migration alert to hit home”, 10/08).

While that persists, so will the very high demand for housing, goods and services and electricity. For quite a while in recent years, that high migrant intake has driven our inflation rate upwards, and will continue to do so while it persists. All of the government, both state and federal, need to realise that fact.

Ken Moncrieff, Brisbane, Qld

Deserving Diamonds

Thank you for your superb coverage of the Diamonds’ spectacular winning of the Netball World Cup. It truly is surprising that the Diamonds are not paid. In contrast, the Matildas soccer team members will each receive at least $135,000 for reaching the quarter-finals by defeating Denmark. But netball simply does not have any money for this. I hope that changes in the future, so we can get more of such exciting entertainment.

Jill Johnson, Malvern, Vic