Nuclear waste proposal raises some interesting, profitable possibilities

David Penberthy’s article raises the interesting possibility of a highly profitable industry for Australia in the form of storage of nuclear waste (“AUKUS puts state on nuclear road map”, 5/4).

The article is mainly concerned with potential sites in South Australia. It is apparent, however, that much antipathy to such a project exists in that state.

While not yet mentioned as a potential nuclear waste storage site, the recently closed Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia presents interesting possibilities. Situated in a geologically stable area, 185km from the nearest settlement of Kununurra and said to have some 60km of abandoned “block-cave” underground development (commencing some 600m below ground level), it would seem tailor-made for the purpose.

Bill Pannell, Pemberton, WA

How refreshing to read David Penberthy’s article about the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission and the revival of its recommendations that is necessitated by the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

I made a submission to the royal commission in 2016 and was horrified at the citizens jury’s shameful rubbishing of its excellent work. Let’s hope that the review’s recommendations will now be implemented urgently, to Australia’s commercial benefit, without waiting for the defence requirements associated with AUKUS.

Don Higson, Paddington, NSW

Who needs to know

Gillon McLachlan, as chief executive of the AFL, has made a statement that although there are gay players, they are not ready to come out to the public (“Burden too great for first openly gay player to step forward, says AFL boss”, 5/4). Am I the only person to say I don’t need to know and I don’t care? They play football. I do not care if they are gay, if they are vegetarians or if they vote teal. Their private lives are their own to discuss if they wish. I hope they choose not to. It is irrelevant and has no bearing on the game they play.

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW

Good migration

The federal government has recently announced an increase in migration levels with a net migration of 650,000 people expected in the next two years.

This increase is good news for primary and service industries as it will alleviate the labour short­ages, but there is a downside. Recent history shows that 70 per cent of new migrants settle in Sydney and Melbourne at a time when services are struggling to keep up with their populations.

An alternative would be to increase the zone allowance in the taxation system, from $338 annually – where it has been for 60 years ­­– to, say, $15,000 annually, with a sunset clause of seven to 10 years. The definition of the zone allowance should also be changed to include northern Australia and selected regional areas.

This increase would attract working Australians and migrants looking to save tax, helping to develop the regions, and when the sunset clause removes the tax advantage they will have been in the communities seven or 10 years, purchased homes, have children at school and be unlikely to return to the cities.

This will be a considerable cost to the budget but it will be more than offset by the cost of providing more funding to state governments to provide infrastructure and services for an increasing population in ever larger cities.

G. Hunter, Darwin

Investment terror

Of all the telling points made by Judith Sloan in her excellent article (”Wishful thinking on emissions risks investment exodus”, 5/4), perhaps the most shameful for the Greens and the Albanese government is Glencore’s warning of an investment strike. While the concept of an investment strike holds few terrors for economic troglodytes, it really should worry the economic personnel in the Albanese government.

They will surely squirm with embarrassment and shame if Glencore’s investment funds and subsequent economic activity end up in Canada – hardly a model of ruthless practices, rather the comfortable home of ultra-woke Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Many of our voters will be furious.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA

Getting to the truth

Chairman Walter Sofronoff KC is the man for the job of getting to the truth (“Legal basics on the line in Lehrmann inquiry”, 5/4).

In a probe triggered by stunning journalism by The Australian, he presided over the inquiry into the broken DNA lab in Queensland. He persevered through the layer upon layer of bureaucratic obfuscation, incompetence and repeated lies being told under oath. He chiselled down forensically to reveal a system so broken that justice in Queensland was being severely compromised for many years.

Bruce Williams, Merewether, NSW