Malcolm Colles, please be quiet and let us enjoy the best ever Punch and Judy show in town

Abbott may feel the N-word is the kiss of death. As some have pointed out the PM is taking 'direct action' by using Federal money to replace coal fired power stations in Victoria and South Australia with gas fired. In theory that was supposed to happen all by itself after the introduction of carbon tax.

It's early days though. These new gas fired power stations will produce fairly expensive electricity even compared to carbon taxed coal. There will be no rush to convert other power stations. I suspect in a year or two the Germans will be dragging their feet on the nuclear phaseout. Either that or burning more coal or importing nuclear electricity from France. Perhaps 2013 might be a better time for Abbott to talk about nuclear for Australia. By then we'll have a clearer idea just what can realistically replace coal.

[Deleted for abuse.]

I agree with Taswegian in the sense that concerted discussion of nuclear power for Australia should wait until 2013. A compelling reason for this is not the "N" word but the "F" word - by that I mean Fukushima.

The risks of natural disasters or terrorism to nuclear power stations might result in incredibly high cleanup and public health costs. No Australian politician in his right mind would fly nuclear until a better idea of the impact of Fukushima on the Japanese economy and radiation sickness levels are known.

Apart from that Abbott would do well to let the already unwieldy hung-Labor parliament implode over the next two years. Opposition Parties like Abbott's usually do better sniping at poor Government policies rather than Opposition early on presenting alternative policies (like post Fukushima nuclear) that are so easily shot down.

Pete
see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/search/label/Fukushima%20nuclear%20disaster

While I am a huge supporter of nuclear power, with the ALP kicking in own goals on a regular basis, why on god's earth would the liberals want to take the focus off Labor's stuff ups.

As plantagenet mentioned, when the Fukishima plant is back under control, the hysteria dampens down, and Labor is in an irredeemable position, then the coalition can begin tackling the real issues.

One wonders what parallel univewrse Mr Colless is inhabiting. It is not a question of allowing the "hysteria" about Fukushima die ddown. That particular disaster disclosed some uncomfortable ralities about the nuclear industry, including but not limited to their capacity to lie about the scale of the disaster; the willingness of the government to be a party to that lie; the rapidity (as in the UK) where the nuclear industry and the government conspired to present a reassuring story to the public etc etc.
Fortunately there are saner heads in the world including the German government that immediately reversed its previous policy of developing nuclear energy. If only a similar level of sanity and concern for human welfare could be found in Australia. With cheerleaders like Mr Colless one might wait a long time.