Thread by @WePlanetAus

"There is no technical, scientific, or environmental reason to ban nuclear energy" - Dr @Jo_Lackenby president of the Australian Nuclear Association.

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Dr @Jo_Lackenby says that removing the ban on nuclear is not an automatic green light for construction but would allow the technology to be assessed on its merits alongside other technology.

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Discussion has moved to cost.

Cost is important when considering building a plant, it's not relevant to whether #nuclear should remain banned under an environmental act.

Nuclear energy has the lowest lifecycle environmental impact. There is no justification to ban it.
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Tony Irwin from SMR Australia says that removing the ban on nuclear would allow Australia to consider all low emission energy sources.

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"Siting nuclear at existing coal power stations would allow us to transmission grid that already exists"

Dr @Jo_Lackenby says benefits of small modular reactors is co-locating them where you need them, such as for industrial users.
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This is exactly what is occuring in the US.

CEO of DOW Chemical has announced they are investing in SMRs to decarbonise electrical and heat energy at their processing facilities.

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Dicussion has now shifted to waste.

So let's discuss it.
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Speaking now is Helen Cook, an internationally recognised top nuclear legal expert.

Helen says Australia is missing out on fostering innovation & industrial development by continuing to maintain a ban on #nuclear energy.
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Helen also says that while Australia may not have a civilian nuclear energy sector, we also don't have that for nuclear in the defence sector but that isn't stopping us from going down that route.

Speaking now is energy expert, Prof Stephen Wilson who says he once held anti nuclear views but has changed his mind and now finds it difficult to find anyone that is willing to publicly stand up and defend the ban.

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Dr Paterson says that the % of renewables is no measure of decarbonisation, what matters is the gCO2eq/kWh.

Dr Paterson is former head of @ANSTO says that Minister @Bowenchris's use of yellow barrels is disrespectful to those that work at ANSTO & part of Australia's nuclear sector.

He says it also send a bad signal internationally to our allies & trading partners.

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@ANSTO @Bowenchris Dr Paterson says that removing the nuclear ban & having a 100 year look at our energy system removes us from the political trench warfare by allowing a respectful conversation from all experts & segments of society about our energy future.

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Tania Constable from MCA says that nuclear could provide a reliable way for the mining and resource sector to decarbonise their energy use.

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Rebecca Knol says, We have always said this is not an all or nothing approach, we don't think it should be 100% renewables or 100% nuclear, what we want to see is a sensible mix to deliver affordable, reliable power.

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Senator Canavan: Can you explain why nuclear energy is fine in submarines for Australia but should be banned on land?

Tania Constable: Decisions about nuclear should be based on evidence RE cost, safety & environment. There is no evidence that nuclear should be banned.

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Tania Constable says we run the risk of paying to train people for our nuclear submarine fleet only to lose their expertise and value to other countries if we don't have a civilian nuclear energy sector.

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It's worth remembering that polling shows a majority in favour of lifting the #nuclear ban.

Source: poll.lowyinstitute.org/charts/potenti…

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Dr Peatfield says that 8-900 wind turbine towers are being planned within a 50km radius of his town in New England. He shares community concerns about the impacts on traffic, noise, agriculture & scenic beauty.

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This is indicative of growing pushback to the energy transition.

"We know that the transition is vital to addressing climate change, so politicians should be offering incentives rather than barriers."

replanet.au/post/energy-tr…

Teenager William Shackel, founder of @nuclearforaus says Australia is facing an energy and climate crisis that our nation must address or it will be young people like himself that will face the consequences.

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William says that through the media & pop culture we have seen a propagation of misinformation about nuclear and that Australia's ban makes it difficult for ordinary Aussies to hear the knowledge of expertise like those giving evidence today.

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There will be pushback from young voters if we don't decarbonise and they will be angry at those who didn't do everything they could.

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Will says that new polling by Compass Survey shows 70% of Aussies support #nuclear energy.

This matches a trend found in recent polling conducted for RePlanet. replanet.ngo/post/world-wan…

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William says one reason young people are enthusiastic about #nuclear is that they are optimistic about science and technology.

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"Australia's experiencing an energy & climate crisis. The cost of choosing not to do everything in our power to address these challenges is simply incomprehensible, and it will be my generation that bares the brunt of the consequences" - William Shackel.

We agree with William, which is why we made a submission to this inquiry back in December last year.

@FoEAustralia & @AusConservation say there is no social licence for nuclear.

We argue the ban lacks social licence with the majority of Australians supporting the use of nuclear energy and the number of people strongly opposed has dramatically declined."

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More polling.
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Dave Sweeney from ACF acknowledges that nuclear is low carbon but says it is not zero carbon.

He is correct but fails to mention that neither are renewables or storage.

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The @ETU_national state that inquiries in Australia have not advocated for the lifting of the #nuclear ban.

This is incorrect. We included this in our submission.
replanet.ngo/_files/ugd/dcc…

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Paul Graham from @CSIRO say they have not updated their costings on nuclear for several years because they have not been able to find new data.

This is extraordinary given the new data coming out almost weekly on developments in the nuclear industry.

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It's interesting that again CSIRO's argument is about cost. They have not argued for an environmental justification for maintaining the #nuclear ban in an environment and biodiversity act.

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Senator @hollieahughes says that if cost was the basis for banning technology then we would have banned solar and wind in the early 2000s, instead government invested & it brought the cost down.

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Senator @mattjcan asks CSIRO whether their costs should be justification for prohibiting the use of a whole technology.

CSIRO make it clear they aren't for or against the #nuclear ban but rather are providing one source of advice to government & AEMO.

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Senator @mattjcan: Minister Bowen put up a video last week claiming that Australia doesn't have a nuclear regulatory , did he consult you?

Dr Hirth: Ah, no.

Senator @mattjcan: Does Australia have a nuclear regulator.

Dr Hirth: yes, ARPANSA is that regulator.
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Senator @mattjcan: Minister Bowen said that Australia doesn't have nuclear expertise or a nuclear workforce. Do we have nuclear power expertise in Australia?

Dr Hirth: We have the fundemental expertise to support nuclear power but would need to build capacity.

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@mattjcan Senator @mattjcan: Does @ANSTO think Australia has nuclear power expertise?

Dr Apperley: Yes we do.

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@mattjcan @ANSTO Senator @mattjcan: This image is from Minister Bowen's video last week & appears to be from a free image website the description is nuclear waste on grassy fields. Do we store nuclear waste on grassy fields in Australia?

Ms McLaughlin, Department of Energy: No Senator.
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