Minister Makes Full Report on Introducing Nuclear Power to Australia Available. (June 4, 2006)

    The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, today released the 267 page report by Professor John Gittus, Introducing Nuclear Power to Australia: an economic comparison.

In releasing the report Ms Bishop said that Australia should decide whether it wants nuclear power before it considers potential sites for power plants. She made no suggestions as to how Australia should make its views known.

She told Channel 9 "In order to establish what sort of site would be needed, you'd want to consider the environmental concerns and the whole range of issues to determine whether we want or need nuclear power before you started looking at sites. That would be a separate, quite detailed exercise, I believe."

As reported by  The Sydney Morning Herald online:

"I believe we've got a responsibility to look at alternative sources of energy," Ms Bishop said.

"Nuclear power is emerging as one of the lowest carbon dioxide-emitting technologies for base-load electricity generation in the world."

Her submission was lodged in April, she said.

"I put in a submission with Minister Macfarlane in April of this year and Brendan's submission was being considered.

"I added my voice to the calls for a debate, along with Minister Macfarlane."

The prime minister's submission to cabinet this week is likely to call for a range of issues to be considered, she said.

"I would imagine we would need to cover the environmental concerns, the economic aspect of it, safety, insurance, a whole range of issues about what would be required in order to establish a nuclear power station in Australia."

It will be interesting to see just what conditions the Coalition Government places on the ensuing debate(s) and discussions and the resourses it makes available and to whom.

And the behaviour, resolve and cohesion of the Labor opposition in putting its views forward will be a test of its position - clearly this one of the primary aims of Prime Minister Howard.

See also

Editorial: The Past Master, John Howard, Initiates an Exercise in Obfuscation -- Nuclear Power Good ? -- Nuclear Power Bad?

News & Views: Nuclear Power -- Read the Synopsis and Believe. (May 26, 2006)