Major outbreak common sense in Canberra. ABC reported late yesterday – Australia to get nuclear-powered submarines, will scrap $90b program to build French-designed subs and this morning are running an update – Australia to acquire nuclear submarine fleet as part of historic deal with US and UK to counter China’s influence 16Sep2021
PM ScoMo is saying this is not a move to nuclear power and we will still honour the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Australia needs to grow up but with an election due so soon nuc electricity generation would be a bridge too far for ScoMo. By now the ABC will be assembling a research team to use all these various issues against the Govt to help Labor win the 2021 Federal election. I have initial concerns we are nodding in two directions re the subs – I would prefer a more simple “just acquire tried & proven US nuc subs however and get them operating out of downunder”. And of course we should work towards acquiring nuclear weapons capacity.
First – hallelula !!! Another bit of Lord Waffle flushed away. Good …
Agree we should just buy off-the-shelf nuclear subs from the US and pay the French some bugger-off money (although of course, they are not responsible for Waffle’s leftiness, but simply for taking advantage of it).
We can only hope this will open the door for a nuclear-powered electricity grid. Certainly the lefties (ABC, MSM, Waffle, ALP, medicos, fellow-travellers all) are marshalling their shriekiness as we write.
I admit straight out that China’s rude and bellicose ambition was the very last vehicle I expected to breach the no-nuclear wall in Australia. Quite a surprise. I imagine this is Dutton’s work in pushing Morrison to the starting gate.
Morrison wants to win the next election and we won’t have nuclear subs until well after that and the next election.
But the idea of nuclear generation will sink into the public mind, while our politicians dither (as usual), and we will have time to evaluate the various nuclear processes and choose one or more.
Further it will make it harder for the Greens to oppose electricity from no-emission generation instead of their (gas & diesel saved) fantasy of wind and sun.
It is a worry that by this weird aversion to just choosing the best and acquiring a fleet we seem captured by this “Collins Class 2.0” effect of being compelled to build something unique here. You might think the colossal Collins Class fail over multi-decades would have taught us to simply act like prudent shoppers. Look for a good item and buy it.
I hope that as early as next year US nuc subs start calling here regularly – then basing here – = 2 or more portings – we could have a team servicing them – RAN pers could go to US to gain nuc sub qualifications – eventually the US subs could do most non-nuc service tasks here. This would fit with news today re increased US troop and air force visits & basing.
US to send more planes, including bombers, to Australia under defence pact 17Sep21
Following today’s drop in iron ore, China’s Evergrande collapse, a need for a smelter in the Pilbara arises to make steel for rail across Australia from the Pilbara and restart manufacturing of cars and submarines. And a whole lot more.
Unions have been a dis-incentive to any big industries here. But how about a deal with India for them to share a steel industry in a special economic zone in Northern Aust. Indias steel production is v low as yet. Coking coal from the east. We could also offer the Indian Navy a joint port somewhere. Hope you are AOK Tom.
All good here Waz, having never been locked down or had to wear a mask.
There is coal in the Fitzroy Valley but at present indigenous and Green blockages prevent it from mining. The Thunderbird Mineral Sands mine near here is 50% Yansteel owned.
Sorry, Tom Harley, but steel production actually needs high quality coking coal to reduce the iron ore. WA does not have such deposits. Premium coking from the eastern states of NSW and especially Q’ld right now sells for over AUD$360/tonne, with premium Newcastle thermal seeing price rises of 350% over the last year.
Commodity prices do indeed cycle around.
As far as the smug “no masks blah” goes, I’ll listen when WA fronts up properly in repatriating stranded Aus citizens. As it stands, Perth is likely to become fly-over territory.
If only it was April I could bring up The Greens delusion about using hydrogen to make steel.
YES, I know steel is an alloy containing carbon, but do they?
Why not a steel plant in the Pilbara? No need to ship iron ore, and bulk carriers arriving empty when they could be carrying coal.