individual,

Most non-politicians getting big money have qualifications; politicians do not. Rudd wasn't even worth the basic wage, but Morrison is in the chair now. My sentiments apply to all of the dropkicks, irrespective of party. And, I am a conservative. There is no conservative party in Australia.

PP,

It's not about ability, it's about economics. We don't have the market for cars: that's why the industry had to be so heavily subsidised; that and the gross greed of unions and workers.

Snowy 3.0 is a good idea if you will have a lot of wind and sun power
at the wrong time of day. You buy it cheap and pump up, then when the
sun sets and the wind dies, you sell electricity dear.
Doesn't matter if you loose 15% in heat, you make money.
However that depends on you being able to build a renewable energy system
and a high grade grid all around Australia to chase the wind.
If as it is now looking more likely such a renewable system is
unaffordable then nuclear is what will be built and Snowy 2.0 is a dud.

As for submarines the reason we need so many is that it takes so long
to get to the patrol areas.
Subsidies after the current problem will mean that there is no money
available for such luxuries.

Bazz,
I'm puzzled why you think such a renewable energy system is unaffordable now; to me it looks more affordable than ever. Meanwhile nuclear energy is looking less and less affordable in Europe and America. SMRs have been failing to deliver on their promises for decades, and now large reactor costs seem to be out of control.

Snowy 2.0 may yet be a dud, but if so, it will be the result of competition form other storage technology such as batteries.

Aiden, Solar & wind are only cheap if you do not have to duplicate them.
The numbers I have seen seem to be suggesting big duplication factors.
And no, I have not kept the urls of the articles.
The duplication factor decreases as the area involved gets bigger.
Because a turbine produces about 35% of nameplate kwhr it means the
duplication factor is 3 at a minimum. However whats the betting that in
a day the wind will be low speed at all three sites a couple of times a day.
So the factor is bigger than three, how much well that depends on the wx
and the size of the country.
I know, I know, batteries, and batteries that can carry the whole grid
because you can bet that a couple of times a month all wind farms will
be becalmed. Well, there might be one on Tasmanian west coast that has
a bit of decent wind.
Then as any sailor will tell you, just as the sun is setting the wind dies.

Bazz: wasting your time with, Adian, mate! He will argue with himself just to prove you're wrong but only in his antinuclear at any cost, universe. The reason our collins class couldn't sail was mostly because they couldn't crew them? And because diesels are notoriously noisy even with the best mufflers.

And are so slow, can't beat a strategic withdrawal with any degree of safety, but act as target practise for the destroyer class and depth charges.

Collins-class are little more than tin coffins, because they don't have nuclear power plants.

And with that power could reportedly exceed fifty knots fully submerged and with the nuclear power, make as much oxygen as they need for months on end, even submerged on the bottom.

Any new sub, given it's diesel-powered? Will face the very same difficulties as the similarly powered collins! Knock, knock, here we are! And look flat out at fifteen knots! Gotta hand it to our decision-makers, they know exactly what they're doing and have the safety of the crews paramount and at front of mind.

Look, if anyone has difficulty finding a job after we've beaten the pandemic, probably a shoo-in, in the navy and submarine duty? make sure you have plenty of life insurance and that submarine duty is not included, in the fine print, exclusion list!
Alan B.