Australia's "nuclear debate" sidesteps energy issues
Prime Minister John Howard's proposed "nuclear debate" sidesteps the pressing energy issues faced by Australia in the 21st Century, Bellingen Institute Director Dr Richard Hil said today.
Dr Hil said that the Federal Government is in effect proposing false alternatives by creating a public agenda about nuclear energy rather than asking what would be the best solutions to Australia's energy and greenhouse gas emissions problems.
"The Bellingen Institute is not alone in questioning Mr Howard's stance," Dr Hil said. "Victoria's Energy Minister Theo Theophanous has debunked an Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) report that claims nuclear power could be competitive with conventional energy generation if subsidised by taxpayers.
"The question is not whether to go nuclear, but how to go smart," Dr Hil said. "For example, a new study undertaken by Murdoch University's Adjunct Professor of Sustainability Policy, Dr Mark Diesendorf, and his colleagues shows that clean and renewable alternatives are already available, indicating that sustainable energy without the dangerous nuclear option is clearly the preferred subject of inquiry.
"ANSTO has already admitted that nuclear power generation plants would have to be situated near Eastern Seaboard cities, obviously not an acceptable proposition. Powerful people residing in cities making decisions about what goes on in regional Australia, especially when it come to nuclear energy, is not an acceptable or tolerable situation. There is a distinct sense of 'not in my back yard' about this sort of approach.
"We need a debate on energy that is inclusive, democratic and serious about the future needs and aspirations of this nation. This mean constituting committees that are truly representative of the broad spectrum of community opinion on energy and which includes people from all social and geographical parts of Australia. This issue is too important to be left in the hands of a few select appointees by the Prime Minister," Dr Hil added.
The Bellingen Institute
The Bellingen Institute, an independent community research and policy initiative, fills an important gap in public discourse about regional and national public affairs. It gives an alternative contribution to national debate on social policy; sustainable economics; community; human wellbeing; the environment; the workplace, the regional labour market and human rights.
Tagged: australia, nuclear, climate+change, global+warming
Dr Hil said that the Federal Government is in effect proposing false alternatives by creating a public agenda about nuclear energy rather than asking what would be the best solutions to Australia's energy and greenhouse gas emissions problems.
"The Bellingen Institute is not alone in questioning Mr Howard's stance," Dr Hil said. "Victoria's Energy Minister Theo Theophanous has debunked an Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) report that claims nuclear power could be competitive with conventional energy generation if subsidised by taxpayers.
"The question is not whether to go nuclear, but how to go smart," Dr Hil said. "For example, a new study undertaken by Murdoch University's Adjunct Professor of Sustainability Policy, Dr Mark Diesendorf, and his colleagues shows that clean and renewable alternatives are already available, indicating that sustainable energy without the dangerous nuclear option is clearly the preferred subject of inquiry.
"ANSTO has already admitted that nuclear power generation plants would have to be situated near Eastern Seaboard cities, obviously not an acceptable proposition. Powerful people residing in cities making decisions about what goes on in regional Australia, especially when it come to nuclear energy, is not an acceptable or tolerable situation. There is a distinct sense of 'not in my back yard' about this sort of approach.
"We need a debate on energy that is inclusive, democratic and serious about the future needs and aspirations of this nation. This mean constituting committees that are truly representative of the broad spectrum of community opinion on energy and which includes people from all social and geographical parts of Australia. This issue is too important to be left in the hands of a few select appointees by the Prime Minister," Dr Hil added.
The Bellingen Institute
The Bellingen Institute, an independent community research and policy initiative, fills an important gap in public discourse about regional and national public affairs. It gives an alternative contribution to national debate on social policy; sustainable economics; community; human wellbeing; the environment; the workplace, the regional labour market and human rights.
Tagged: australia, nuclear, climate+change, global+warming
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