What we may see in the next decade is that nuclear holdouts like Australia, Germany and New Zealand mark time economically while nuclear nations get ahead. Not to be outdone in the hypocrisy stakes Australia exports a lot of the despised uranium as well as the apparently now OK fossil fuels.

If Albanese gets re-elected I suspect some major industries will either fail to get off the ground (hydrogen anyone?) or will go offshore. We will send alumina and thermal coal to China and buy back our own aluminium. That's because our electricity will be too unreliable but at least our emissions will look better

Is there a “growing confidence in nuclear power”?

Or, do people just want cheap, reliable power as they once had from coal, until it was demonised?

I'm going with the second option. We will be in big trouble before nuclear power gets up - if it gets up.

And the "demands of AI”.

What is AI demanding of us? We can live quite well without artificial intelligence; at least those of us with human intelligence can.

AI is as big a threat to humanity as the wrecking of cheap, reliable electricity is; as the loss of everyday essential goods reliant on fossil fuels will be.

No, nuclear power is not “especially dangerous”. But neither was coal dangerous, and is still not. That supposedly smart people have allowed themselves to be fooled by a bunch of crooks and liars shows that they are not aware of all the great hoaxes in history.

The main problem in the world is too many people- and as a result we are trying to correct the "competitive advantage of scale" by importing more people into Australia. To me the better option is higher cost more durable goods giving us a reputation for quality products. If you focus on price you get what you pay for (you are selling your country to China- there is no such thing as a free lunch). If you focus on Australian made durable quality products you'll pay less in the long term.

Australia needs low cost energy to support it's economy and way of life. Sadly many people believe that they can do nothing- and still keep their and their children's good life- it requires a plan- but by not planning they are planning to fail- and for their children to live in an occupied nation.

Nuclear energy is necessary for cheap energy and for national defense until fusion is commercialized.

We didn't start this- but we need to take control of our destiny- this will require sacrifice- be brave

Nuclear will not happen there is no costings that are conclusive you go in with an open check book.

None of Duttons proposed sites would ever get off the ground. Access to un disrupt-able water is a massive problem. That is why they are sited on sea sides or reservoirs. {with minimal distance to the water supply which is patrolled continuously].

A 50 km evacuation zone. A 20 km zone with less than 200 persons living there. Restrictions are non negotiable and authorized only by the world nuclear commission.

SMR reactors do not exist.

Small reactors of 10 or 20 KwH capacity do exist and are not water cooled they are pressurised sealed tanks.[lucas heights]