Antinuclear

This prospect raises two significant policy issues for Australia. The first is whether the commonwealth can operate and maintain nuclear submarines in a sovereign environment that has no civilian nuclear power industry to supply the nuclear-trained staffs, as well as build and maintain the infrastructure that is necessary. The second is whether Australia is prepared to establish an indemnification and regulatory environment that would be critical to safely and effectively operate and maintain nuclear vessels for 50 years. …….

A unique aspect of such submarines is the enormous amount of energy stored in their reactor cores.

Built, operated, and maintained properly, this energy is released in a controlled manner over a long period.

A sudden, uncontrolled release of this energy could be catastrophic, not only to the submarine, but to people and property nearby.

Given that private insurance typically does not cover nuclear risks, an effective scheme to indemnify possible victims of a nuclear accident could be critical. Without such an indemnity scheme, companies might be unwilling to provide components and services to maintain and operate propulsion plants. 

As Australian policymakers and the public debate the nuclear submarine option for the Royal Australian Navy, it could be valuable for them to broaden their understanding of what it would take to establish:

• A sovereign and robust industrial capability to operate and maintain submarines equipped with mobile nuclear power propulsion plants;

• A rigorous regulatory scheme to ensure mobile power reactors are safely built, tested, operated, maintained and deactivated;

• An indemnity scheme to cover third-party liabilities in the event of a “nuclear” incident;

• Training and development paths for regulators, engineers, operators and maintainers; and

• Facilities necessary to service nuclear-powered submarines……. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/nuclear-subs-idea-worth-floating/news-story/61c003a41e9303ca7883561983da90ac