By Noel Wauchope
Peter Dutton is the leader of Australia’s opposition party – the Liberal-National Coalition.
Which is pretty noteworthy and important, anyway. But of course, he would be more important if he is elected as Prime Minister in 2025. But is that enough fame for him?
Dutton aspires to a greater, global, significance. He would be the first world leader to introduce the commercial, peaceful, advanced nuclear industry to not just a country, but to an entire continent. And not to some “third-world” “undeveloped” country “in need of charity” – but to a prosperous, privileged, purportedly well-educated, and still mainly white population.
For the global nuclear industry – that would be a first! And not just any old first, but an extremely timely one. Just released this week, The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 describes an industry on life support. Even back in 2016 Former World Nuclear Association executive Steve Kidd spoke to this problem, noting that “the industry is essentially running to stand still.”
For Australia to adopt a government-run nuclear industry involving both large and small nuclear reactors across a continent – what a wonderful shot in the arm for the global nuclear lobby. And Dutton – what a hero!
Dutton would be famous not just in Australia, but world-wide
Is this why Peter Dutton is promoting his nuclear policy?
I can’t think of any other reason.
Australia, especially in the State of South Australia, is becoming a world leader in renewable energy use – particularly in decentralised household rooftop solar, but also in large solar and wind programmes. Of course, Australia’s mining magnates are pretty happy with Dutton’s plan, as it will mean more mining, not just of uranium, but of coal and gas in the decades before nuclear power actually comes into use.
So – look – it’s a winner for Dutton’s fame.
And if that doesn’t work, there’s fame in another way
The last Liberal Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is a great contender for the worst Prime Minister in Australian history. Just a few of his achievements to merit this award were:
- By 2022, Australia’s gross national debt was 42.5 per cent of GDP (Peak Whitlam government was 24.5. Peak Hawke-Keating was 24. Peak Rudd-Gillard Government debt was 20.)
- Notorious for taking a holiday during Australia’s 2019–20 bushfire season.
- Signed Australia up to the costly AUKUS nuclear submarine deal
- Secretly appointed himself to five ministerial positions without the knowledge of the public or his own government.
Economically, the nuclear power programme, added to the continuing AUKUS nuclear deal, could pretty well bankrupt Australia. Although Dutton claims that nuclear power will be cheap, he’s given no costings, and the over-riding opinion of energy and economics experts is that nuclear power would be the most expensive form of energy for Australia.
Environmentally, Dutton’s plan includes advanced nuclear reactors, which will require plutonium or enriched uranium – so this brings virtually eternal radioactive pollution into Australia (something that has been nearly avoided up until now). It also brings the hazards of nuclear weapons proliferation, and terrorism targets.
So – it’s a bold venture for Peter Dutton, to centre his election campaign on promoting the nuclear industry. He is to be commended for bravery in taking such a big risk.
If Dutton carries this through, as Prime Minister, he will rapidly gain world fame.
But also, as far as Australia is concerned, he could beat Scott Morrison into history as the nation’s worst Prime Minister.
Dutton’s big risk is that he might not get elected in 2025, and vanish very quickly from history.
[textblock style=”7″]
Like what we do at The AIMN?
You’ll like it even more knowing that your donation will help us to keep up the good fight.
Chuck in a few bucks and see just how far it goes!
Your contribution to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
[/textblock]
Infamous is a much more accurate word to describe the towball headed toss pot. A lot like the bloated orange felon across the big pond. They will both go down in history as embarrassments not only to their respective countries but also to the world and our species in general. If enough Australians were gullible enough to vote the thing from the swamp in to the big chair our country will spiral down the toilet faster than a big mac fueled turd from the ‘pussy’ fondler himself. I shudder to think of the consequences..
Is it a sprouting Spud, a burbling Diving Bell, or a flamin Intercontinental Bullet Head? Yep, certainly all three, as he emerges from ground zero, tosses a line in to go fission or perhaps generate con fusion. Even he’s not sure, but will let us know when he gets off his red ess and accesses a load of kryptonite from the Daily Planet.
considering the abysmal record of the lib/nats at building anything, it is more likely that this will become a non core promise
Useful idiot and wiling dupe for the fossil fueled faux free market authoritarianism in RW MSM, wise elders, Atlas Koch IPA, CIS etc with a mining heiress, bought politicians and white Christian nationalism.
If one was a current Liberal Party normie, one would be alarmed at how the far right QLD LNP with a US ‘southern strategy has been hijacked or become a Trojan horse to take over the Liberal Party nationally, especially now NSW, Victoria next?
Normally one would be not be worried but our skewed nativist RW media conditioning older &/or regional voters negatively to support power eg. the CIS-Advance-Rhinehart-Murdoch Voice No campaign…. too easy
That’s one map Tassie would have been happy to have been left off. We don’t need nuclear (or coal, or gas [except when the state misgovernment sells off too much of the local product]) – hydro and wind give us all – and more than – we can use.
Potty Boy Dutton is a bloody dickhead and a wannabe fascist! He is also an anti-science numbskull, just like Tone the Botty.
P Duddy doesn’t want fame it’s, “By the power of numbskull, I WANT THE POWER!” to paraphrase a line from a certain dopey 1980’s cartoon.
Renewables hit 102.5% in Australia yesterday.
Nuclear is dead on arrival…….its a policy when you have non and intend to have non. Its a talking point , a point of difference.
It achieved its required results, Trump style. It put them into the conversation. Clear as daylight isnt it?
Clearly 50yrs of mantra chanting isnt enough to put these psychos in jail. They have established the narrative and we, the suckers are still played….
My fellow Australians made Morrison PM and Abbott PM and Howard PM (without whom none of those low-life creeps, thugs and crims would have darkened our lives), so I see no reason why Aussies wouldn’t vote for Dutton PM.
Within 6 months or so we’ll know if Dutton or Albo is PM. A lot depends on the whims of legacy media and how they spin things. Who is their preferred pick? Whoever best suits their agenda will be given the red carpet treatment in the press.
I wonder if either Dutton or Albo will do something novel after winning the election and swear an oath to the Commonwealth and its people or will they carry on the tradition of not swearing a proper oath so that they can never be tried for treason.