Australia’s climate wars will not end – to paraphrase former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull – until the Coalition chooses engineering and economics over ideology and idiocy.

Over the past two decades, the Coalition has made a series of look-over-there attempts to prolong the life of coal: first carbon capture and storage, then HELE (High Efficiency, Low Emissions) “clean coal”, followed by the “gas-fired recovery” and now small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). Not one was a serious proposal backed by analytic rigour. All were just fig leaves to cover embarrassingly small policies.

What Rolls-Royce envisions its small modular reactor will look like.Credit: Rolls-Royce

By proposing we turn to nuclear, the Coalition signals loudly that it does not understand Australia’s massive natural advantages. We have the world’s most abundant wind and solar resources, putting us on track to produce the world’s cheapest energy. Blend our clean-energy advantages with our abundant reserves of critical minerals and add a generous dollop of nation-building vision and Australia can deliver great prosperity to its citizens.

In a decarbonising 21st century, Australia is well placed to be a winner. We can become a clean-energy superpower. Yet the Coalition’s blinkered vision and political gamesmanship would see us squander this great country’s unparalleled natural advantage.

Some might be surprised that I have a deep interest in nuclear energy. In recent years, I’ve visited five nuclear power stations and met four........

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