The Nationals eventually got a compromise on nuclear power policy, (along with a $20 billion for regional infrastructure, rural communication guarantees, and divestiture powers to break up supermarkets abusing market share) so are back in the Coalition.
But this deal makes no sense for a rural party on so many levels. Firstly, the seven nuclear reactors will undoubtedly be in rural electorate ‘backyards’. Secondly, they will be stuck with the toxic waste; thirdly, building nuclear reactors will cost way more than any of the renewable power-generating options currently available. And fourthly, there would be a yawning gap in power production because coal-fired power is already in decline.
It’s hard to imagine farmers and town residents being delighted at the prospect of these nuclear reactors, even if it’s a long way off. Did anyone ask them?
The Nationals are still railing against wind farms and solar panels. Again, that’s odd. Farmers are well aware of climate changing. Many rural people now live off-grid and farmers are renting out bits of their land to host renewables with almost no loss of productivity.
David Littleproud eventually agreed to a compromise that would remove the legislation stopping nuclear power but would leave it to the private sector to develop, cutting across Sussan Ley’s insistence on reviewing all policies, post election. It’s not a good restart to this marriage.
It was the Democrats who legislated this moratorium on nuclear power and we are proud to say it’s here to stay, whatever the Nationals imagine.
Rural people deserve better politics and better, more evidence-based policy. A leader that thinks he is always right is like an emu determined to keep its head in the sand!
