@MorpheusB That site in Jervis Bay is historically fascinating.
It is on Commonwealth owned land (not so much of that available 60 years on).
It is near an ocean, making cooling easy.
It is near major population centres, so we could pretend it was for electricity generation.
The assertion that the reactors will be owned and operated by the Commonwealth is an important element resurrected in the curent fantasy from the (supposedly private-enterprise loving) Liberals.
My (not in any way original) assertion:
The reason for that reactor was to make plutonium for weapons.
And, in that way, it makes 'economic' sense. #Plutonium is expensive to buy. It is cheaper to make it yourself.
Plutonium production is the *only* thing that might tip the money balance in favour of #Australian #reactors.
So, my *guesses* at reasons the Jervis Bay reactor was cancelled:
1. The Americans said "no, do not do that, we will bring you under our #nuclear umbrella, yes, even against Indonesia, yep, promise. Howdy pardner"
2. The cost of building, owning and delivering (the F-111) a nuclear weapon got accurately modelled, and presented to cabinet. McMahon blanched at it - we couldn't afford The Bomb.
3. We built/discovered a better, cheaper weapon of mass destruction - biological or chemical, that made the nuclear weapon redundant. (No, there are many nights I do not sleep soundly, thanks for your concern).
4. Relations with Indonesia and China improved (... enough).
5. The British were cancelling their ICBM-delivered nuclear weapon program, and signing-up to the American Way™ with Trident etc. - so we followed suit in our usual subservient way. (Gorton, I reckon would've hated this - it needed McMahon's lack of spine to make it possible.)
6. Some member of the Liberal Party had a nice holiday home at Vincentia. This is, by far, my favourite one. It's just cheesy enough to be believable.
7. No, anti-nuclear protests didn't stop it. That's a fantasy. The Military industrial complex, psychopath fuckers all of them, have thicker skins than that. Much thicker. Please keep protesting though, and I'll join you - #ICAN is a great place to start. Love and hugs to them.
♬ 
#safety #watchdog that it was wrong to blame #regulations for #delays building new #reactors when he launched a plan to revive the #NuclearPower industry.
