A missing element from much of the debate about whether Australia should embrace nuclear power is that – unless the Labor rank-and-file have an extraordinary change of heart – the issue is already dead on arrival.
John Howard and Scott Morrison knew the score on this. Unless there is bipartisan support, a nuclear industry has virtually no chance of being developed. And as things stand there is no chance of the ALP changing its position.
Why would it? There is no significant view within Labor that the ban on nuclear power should be lifted but, even if there were, the internal fight over it would be savage and likely to lead to revolt.
Politically, it would be a suicide mission that would accelerate the shift from the major parties to the Greens and independents. The scare campaign that Labor and others are preparing to launch against the Coalition’s nuclear push would be turned on both major parties.
The only circumstances in which…
