Antinuclear

The Liberal Democrat also joined South Australian Senator Bob Day in calling for Australia to get nuclear-powered submarines.

The Advertiser revealed earlier this year that Liberal Senator Sean Edwards was working on a plan to earn billions of dollars by storing nuclear waste and generating nuclear power, and using that money to deliver free electricity and abolish state taxes.

That would make SA a magnet for investment, he said.

Senator Leyonhjelm told The Advertiser “the idea of low cost energy as an industry kick-starter is an excellent idea”, but that a full nuclear industry was decades away, while coal power generation and waste storage could deliver that much faster.

“If cheap energy is going to be the solution — and SA certainly needs something, no question about that — then there would be a quicker solution via coal,” he said.

However, the state would need a nuclear industry eventually to be able to replace our conventional submarines with superior nuclear-powered versions, he said………

In estimates yesterday, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation said Australia did not have the direct engineering capability for nuclear submarines.

Senator Leyonhjelm said that situation could be fixed by calling a recruitment agency.

Senator Day said SA needed to start working towards having a nuclear industry and submarines in 30 years.

His preference would be to use the money generated from an industry to lower or eradicate taxes.

Australia should partner with the UK, “the only real and credible partner”.

“If ever there was a country that needs nuclear-powered submarines, it’s Australia,” he said.

“Expert opinion tells us we need 12 subs but it has to be six conventional and six nuclear powered.”

SA is holding a Royal Commission into the nuclear fuel cycle but would need Federal laws changed to be able to have one.

The Conservation Council of SA this week said it did not support an expansion of SA’s role.

“Uranium mining in SA has a history of very significant environmental impacts that show no signs of abating,” spokesman Jim Green said.

“All forms of energy generation have some environmental impact … nuclear power brings with it a range of unavoidable risks to public health and safety that other energy options simply do not.” http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/senators-david-leyonhjelm-and-bob-day-want-atomic-industry-advanced-to-make-nuclear-submarines-viable/story-fnpp66pk-1227382055331