Australians for Affordable Energy Media Release
Australians for Affordable Energy is urging caution following calls for South Australia to become a nuclear power hub and waste storage site, warning fundamental questions about nuclear remain unanswered.
Alexander Downer’s comments advocating for nuclear power plants in South Australia and positioning the state as a nuclear waste storage site are deeply concerning given there has been no comprehensive discussion around nuclear power.
The nuclear debate must go beyond location discussion and first address economic and logistic concerns, Australians for Affordable Energy spokesperson Jo Dodds said.
“Before we even talk about where to dump nuclear waste, we need to ask some hard questions. How much will nuclear really cost Australian taxpayers? What will it do to energy prices and the cost of living? How long will it take to build? Who funds insurance?” Ms Dodd said.
“There are global examples of nuclear projects that have blown out in cost and time frames and just fallen over, leaving consumers to foot the bill. Australians deserve transparency on these issues before any commitments are made.”
The practical implications of nuclear power for everyday Australians remain unclear. Australians deserve a full and open discussion of nuclear power’s real impacts rather than ideological endorsements from political figures.
“We know nuclear energy requires massive upfront investment, long construction times, intensive oversight, expensive insurance, and creates long-term waste management challenges. These factors could seriously impact affordability – for the country and individuals who will have to pay the bills since private investment won’t go near nuclear,” Ms Dodds said.
“We need an evidence-based national conversation about our energy future before committing to specific locations for waste storage. We can’t afford to let political enthusiasm override economic and practical considerations.
“If politicians are serious about nuclear, let’s see the full breakdown of costs, risks and alternatives before making any decisions.”
AFAE warns against locking into costly or uncertain energy options and calls for a transparent review of nuclear power in Australia before any site is considered for waste storage.
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Alexander Downer’s comments should be deeply concerning given his apparent lack of knowledge about nuclear power and nuclear waste. Why do we broadcast the opinions of some ageing, ignorant politician when there are plenty of actual scientists who could be broadcasting facts not opinions! Did anyone ask Alex’s opinion on COVID vaccines???
Given ‘Fishnets’ Downer’s deep commitment to the Old Dart and his relative lack of embedment within the South Australian community – notwithstanding his ancestral heritage or for that matter his daughter’s residence within that state – it’s not a long stretch to concede that he would envisage the outback of SA as an appropriate dumping ground for nuclear waste; after all, Maralinga, Woomera, the lack of consultation or appropriate advice to the indigenous peoples in that area, his antecedent’s endorsement of the massacre of those people, it’s just wasteland really, why not use it to dump toxic radioactive waste?
Absolutely to this country’s detriment that people of his ilk continue to play a part in the public debate as to future actions… he has, clearly, zero commitment to best practice behaviour.
We know whose side Downer is on promoting nuclear on behalf of fossil fuels and slow the transition to renewables, by non ‘free market’ actions.
More curious is how both he and Assange were in parallel ecosystems on their projects inc. Trump’s 2016 election?
Allegedly both had knowledge of DNC emails being stolen (later emerged FSB/GRU), to be used against Clinton/Democrats, desire for Trump & GOP to prevail, and both familiar with Nigel Farage? Nothing to see here?
Then PM Turnbull had some tasty comments for Downer later when made aware; the whole episode in Lowy Centre’s Interpreter:
‘Downer, Turnbull, Trump and a poke in the Five Eyes
Just a diplomat doing his job? A new book puts the spotlight back on Australia, Russia and interference in the US election.
Daniel Flitton
“What he did would have got any other ambassador sacked. It was reckless and self-indulgent and put the Australian government in a very awkward position.”’
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/downer-turnbull-trump-poke-five-eyes
Why do we give the Nuclear Energy Brainfart any oxygen? We are just falling into the LIEberal talking points trap.
It will never happen. It’s the MOST EXPENSIVE form of electricity generation, and not one electron could be energised before approx 2050.
As regards Downer, when he owns up to the bugging crimes he and Howard committed it may be a small sign that he is on the slow road to becoming a human being.
a teacher friend who lives in his electorate went to a meeting to ask a question when he was education minister his minder started the meeting with downer will not take questions on education half left.
my beef is why he picked the french $50b plus when nothing can happen for perhaps 10 years instead of japan or germany at $20b that can start product immediately??? Could be to break the union
ps
the best leader the libs have had since pig iron.
Look, NUCLEAH is the ONLY way to go.
All this talk about what to do with waste stuff, long delays, cost over runs in other countries just shows the mismanagement of the others.
Don’t yu know that the the born to rule libs are far better managers of everything than any other mob either here in good old OZ or for that matter any where else in the world.
Those who think otherwise are just misinformed, don’t know shit and should just shut the fuck up.
(Oh and if the Libs aren’t far enough to the right we have our own trumpian aspirant to vote for. He will fix it all, or sue us if it doesn’t work out, probably even call himself king, like that other Trump, the American one.)
Intriguing that neither the lead article nor comments below mention the word ‘safety’ (Kerri’s Covid analogy the only implicit reference).
Has nuclear safety become such a cliche among the concerned citizenry as to become implicit?
Therefore let’s not mention the ‘D-word’:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_decommissioning
Or the other ‘D word’ (Disaster):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_nuclear_accident
Or the ‘T-word’ in whose idiocracy yours and your children’s children’s safety rests.
Perhaps it’s time to counter Dutton’s fear campaigns with something demonstrably, terrifyingly bigger.
@Herbert,
As I commented, you are falling into the trap of discussing a COALition brainfart. As you mention, decommissioning is a huge cost and is not even mentioned in the scant sentences released by LIEberal Party leader Der Spud.
Best advice for the media would be to completely ignore the subject unless some LNP flunky is willing to stand up and actually answer the serious questions that have been raised by people such as yourself and others.
Further to TT’s comments above, has everyone forgotten ex-LNP Minister Pyne’s comments last month? AFAIK, no one in the MSM has said he’s mistaken or been misquoted.
“Dutton’s nuclear plan will never happen, but it’s still a gem of a policy”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-s-nuclear-plan-will-never-happen-but-it-s-still-a-gem-of-a-policy-20250102-p5l1qv.html
@ Truth Teller:
No sir, I ain’t fallen into no trap: democrat complacency about the demagogic effectiveness of preposterous brainfarts just got a fascist into power in the US of A.
https://johnmenadue.com/peter-dutton-climate-denialist-peddler-of-danger/
Julian P’s link reveals Dutton’s/the Opposition’s campaign playbook, with Ole Whiney’s statement that “by the time anyone has worked out that the likelihood of a nuclear power plant actually being commissioned in Australia is, let’s be generous and say, limited, the election cycle will well and truly have clicked over.”
Ergo, mission accomplished.
I rest my case.
(Or better still, the case as so eloquently put by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3qaPhMmoIk)