A resounding win for the world's nuclear-free clean energy movement.

https://theaimn.net/a-resounding-win-for-the-worlds-nuclear-free-clean-energy-movement/ 5 May 25

In early analyses of the historic Labor election victory, commentators have tut-tutted over the Liberal Coalition's policies that didn't impress voters - like reduced tax on petrol, like poor housing plans, and certain Trump-like aspects. These were the things, and the "cost-of living" issues that brought down the vote for the Coalition. And a number of interviews with voters did show that these issues were important.

BUT, in the media build-up to the election, those issues were hammered, and it seemed to me, that Peter Dutton's party was happy with that, and especially, to stay OFF the topic of nuclear power.

But nuclear power was the core policy in the Opposition's campaign. Its quiet partner policy was the drastic slowing down of solar power, and renewable energy in general. Along with this went a downgrading of climate change - Dutton coming close to climate-change denial - "I'm not a scientist" was his answer to questions about the impacts of global heating. The inevitable delay in nuclear power becoming operational would be a gift for the fossil fuel industries,

And it was a pretty amazing policy- to bring in nuclear power across a very special country! Australia is the only country in the world that is a nation-continent, a great island -continent with one federal government, and one predominant language. There is no doubt that, had the Coalition won this election, it would have been a grand coup for the global nuclear lobby.

The Labor government is also beholden to the nuclear lobby. Anthony Albanese, as Opposition leader in 2021, agreed to the then Liberal government's AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. In 2024, his Labor government cemented its agreement by signing an updated version of the AUKUS Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement (ENNPIA).

So no wonder that both of Australia's major parties are playing down the significance of the nuclear issue, now that across the nation, voters have rejected nuclear power. And the obedient mainstream media is playing it down, too.

Australia's unique advantage is that it is the only nuclear-power -free nation-continent , and is also a world leader in renewable energy.

Even in 2023, 33% of Australian households had rooftop solar panels. generating their own electricity. Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar adoption, with solar panels installed on more homes per capita than any other country. This trend continues to increase, with Australians making huge savings on energy costs.

To be fair to the Albanese Labor government, it has done well on promoting renewable energy. It has not done so well on climate change action - The Australian government is continuing its long-standing support for fossil fuels both at home and abroad.

Despite its two major political parties being wedded to the fossil fuel industries, and both of them sycophantic to American militarism and the nuclear lobby, Australia really does have the opportunity to lead the world in the direction of clean safe nuclear-free energy.

The AUKUS agreement, the nuclear submarine deal , is looking a bit wobbly at this moment -with the Trumpian uncertainty clouding Australia's relationship with the USA.

All in all, it is a positive outlook for Australia, and its leading role in clean energy. But don't expect the corporate media, or the timid ABC, to genuinely emphasise the importance of this election victory over the global nuclear lobby.